People have many ways of creating a legacy. One way is to donate their organs upon death. A single donor can save 8 lives and enhance over 75 more. As the medical criteria for deceased organ donation broaden the based on favorable clinical experience, deceased organ donation is increasing.

You can register to be an organ donor at the time you renew your driver’s license or state ID at your local Department of Motor Vehicles. You can also register online. There is no charge for the donation, but the family is still responsible for burial arrangements (and open casket funerals are possible).

There are two registration processes for donation, one to provide organs and tissue for others, and a separate one for brain research. Some families want to confirm, by autopsy, whether the deceased had Alzheimer’s or another dementia for their own health planning. By donating to the NIH, the donation procedure and autopsy report are free.

If a person is not registered the family can decide to donate their organs. The Organ Procurement Organizations, nonprofits that recover organs, must the family’s consent. However, the family can’t override a person’s decision if they’ve registered or made it part of their advance directive.

some conditions can prevent a person from becoming a donor. You can still register regardless of past medical conditions. A doctor determines the viability of organs for transplant at death. In most cases, organ donation isn’t possible when someone dies at home. Vital organs are only viable for a period. But tissue