I just got a message from Medicare inviting Me to register as an organ donor. I thought I already was. I remember ticking the organ donation box when I first applied for My drivers license.
If I’d have died in the last few years, My organs wouldn’t have saved any lives. Who knows how many other people want to donate but aren’t registered? I think Australia should have an opt-out system instead of an opt-in system, so that people don’t need to make an effort in order to do the right thing. Doing the right thing should be easy.
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It’s also important to make sure you let your family know that you intend to be an organ donor. Because stupidly, even despite registering as an organ donor, your family is allowed to override that wish after your death.
Are they still allowed to do that if you haven’t spoken to them in years, or do you have to legally disown them to get them out of the equation?
I think it would have to be a legal process, but I’m not sure. It would basically depend on whether they have some document somewhere that tells them who they’re supposed to contact as your NOK, I suspect.
Fucking why?
Govt incompetence will always prevail
You may have been registered in your state. Health department and driver’s licenses are both state based records. Medicare is national and there are rules about government agencies using data from different departments without consent.
It is better to register your organ donor status with Medicare, as that can be accessed by any hospital in the nation.
As an FYI you can also check on Medicare if you have it linked to MyGov and/or on the Medicare App. (If it works for you). Can even Register to be an organ donor on there if you haven’t before.
