We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Donor Card?

By B. Chisholm
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,434
Share

A donor card may be carried by any person who has pledged to donate their organs or tissues after they die. Most countries have an Organ Donor Registry with which potential donors register and then receive their donor card. Organ and tissue donation has resulted in thousands of lives saved by transplant throughout the world.

With the advancement of modern medicine over time, organ transplantation has become possible in numerous medical scenarios from heart or liver failure to prevention of amputation in cancer patients. After a person dies, some of their organs and tissues may be transplanted into another person's body, providing that they are genetically similar. Organs that can be transplanted include kidneys, lungs, liver, small bowel and pancreas. In most countries a donor can choose which organs he or she is happy to donate, which will usually be reflected on the donor card.

Should a person be an organ donor, it is essential that the organs are obtained as soon as possible after death. It is for this reason that it is recommended that the donor card is carried at all times, in case of an accident. When deciding to become an organ donor it is wise to inform family or next of kin.

Tissues such as skin, tendons, corneas, tendons, heart valves and cartilage can be donated up to 48 hours after the time of death. Donation of these tissues can help restore vision, give skin grafts to burn victims and repair bone damage. Again, which parts of the body are chosen to be donated is completely up to the donor and should be reflected on the donor card.

Once registered with the organ donor association, a donor card will be sent which is usually filled in by the donor themselves. It usually has their personal details and which organs or tissues they wish to donate, if they wish to specify this. In most countries the donor card is signed by both the donor and one or two witnesses, preferably the next of kin.

It is important to both carry the card at all times and sign up on the registry. Signing up with the registry will ensure that, should the donor not have the donor card on them at the time of death, their organs can still be donated. Time is of essence, especially in organ transplantation, so this can make the difference between being able to donate or not.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-donor-card.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.