Letter to the Editor: Save a life by becoming an organ donor
Dear Editor,
Kudos to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed into law Assembly Bill 1374, a critical step in the effort to increase the number of registered organ donors in California. The new law creates a pathway to improve the language of the DMV donor registration with the goal of ensuring public trust and encouraging more Californians to say “yes” to organ, eye and tissue donation.
Since 2005, the DMV has accounted for more than 95% of the 17.5 million registrations to the Donate Life California organ and tissue registry. Last year alone, these donors saved more than 4,500 lives and improved the quality of life for hundreds of thousands more.
Still, California has the longest transplant waiting list in the country, with more than 20,000 patients currently in need of a lifesaving organ. This new law, which strengthens the partnership between the DMV and Donate Life California, makes it even easier for people to register to be a donor and, by doing so, leave a life-saving legacy.
The opportunity to donate and to receive a lifesaving transplant knows no national, racial, ethnic or religious boundaries, nor sexual orientation. You can save the life of a neighbor, family member, friend or someone you don’t even know by registering to be a donor at your local DMV or by visiting donateLIFEcalifornia.org/OneLegacy.
Tom Mone
Ojai
Board Chair, Donate Life California and CEO, OneLegacy
