Lawmakers push organ donation

During Organ Donation Month, lawmakers are urging North Carolina residents to sign up for the state's donor registry.

Posted 9:31 p.m. Apr 12, 2011 — Updated 9:31 p.m. Apr 12, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. — During Organ Donation Month, lawmakers are urging North Carolina residents to sign up for the state's donor registry.

North Carolina has more than 4 million registered organ donors, making it the sixth-largest donor registry in the U.S., officials said.

"Anytime a group of 10 people get together, at least one of them will be touched by organ donation," said Rep. Dale Folwell, R-Forsyth.

North Carolina has about 3,500 people on waiting lists for needed organs, according to Carolina Donor Services, and the list keeps growing. Each day, about 18 people die nationwide while awaiting a transplant, officials said.

Anyone with a red heart symbol on their driver's license means they have consented to be an organ donor. People can have the symbol added to their license at any Division of Motor Vehicles office or by registering online.

Suggest A Correction