Organ, Tissue Donation Registry Signs Up 8 Million Texans

by Mark Richardson

DALLAS – A program that registers Texans to be organ, eye and tissue donors has hit a major milestone. The Donate Life Texas Registry signed up more than 1 million new registrants in 2015, bringing the total number of potential donors in the state to 8 million.

Suzy Miller, executive director of the Donate Life Texas Registry, said much of the group’s success is through its partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“Those who are applying for or renewing their drivers’ license or identification cards join the donor registry by simply saying ‘yes’ when asked if they would like to register as organ, eye and tissue donors,” she said.

Once a potential donor tells the driver’s license clerk ‘yes,’ their information is automatically forwarded to the registry and is noted on the ID or license, Miller said. In 2015 alone, 250 DPS-registered donors made 751 transplants possible. Since it was created by the Texas Legislature in 2005, 816 Registry donors’ organs have been used in more than 2,600 transplants.

Miller said the need is great. More than 13,000 individuals are awaiting organ or tissue transplants in Texas. She said working with the DPS since 2011 has greatly expanded the number of potential donors for those people.

“The Donate Life Texas Registry has been growing since its inception in 2006,” she said. “However, the partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety really crystallized in 2011 and, since that time, we’ve seen just explosive growth.”

Miller said 13 organ recovery and eye and tissue banks participate in the Registry. She said people also can sign up to be donors online, at donatelifetexas.org.