Legislative Updates

July 13, 2007
South Carolina Donor Registry Becomes Law
(South Carolina Joins 45 Other States That Already Have A Donor Registry) 

In June, Governor Mark Sanford signed House Bill 3317 into Law.  The passing of this legislation by the SC House and Senate allows for the establishment of a SC Organ and Tissue Donor Registry that will be housed and maintained by Donate Life SC. 

“We are the 46^th state to join this important initiative,” says Melissa Blevins, Executive Director of Donate Life SC.  “An established Donor Registry will give South Carolinians the opportunity to sign-up to be donors and have access to their information online as well as through the SCDMV.”  The registry will give organ and tissue donors the ability to notify their family and friends of their wishes, making their decision to donate a matter of record.

“Often family members of potential donors are not aware of their family member’s wish to donate,” says Blevins.  “Once the registry is operational in early 2008, donors and authorized medical professionals will be able to obtain a document of consent that clearly states the donor’s wishes.”  

The Donor Registry secure website will also allow donors to update or change their information online after logging in through a complete ID verification. Currently there are over 600 people in SC waiting on a transplant in SC.  That number grows to nearly 100,000 nationwide.  Everyday 18 people die waiting on a transplant.  That means one person dies every 90 minutes in the US waiting for a life saving transplant. National research shows that although 98% of Americans support donation, only 30% knows the essential steps to take to become a donor. Others allow misconceptions, fears, and misinformation to prevent them from making a decision.

This Donor Registry will make it easier for the public to sign up to become an organ and tissue donor.  It will also aid in making an organ donor’s wishes more clearly known to their family members and loved ones.