Frequently Asked Questions

Simply register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor on your state’s donor registry by saying Yes at the Driver Services or signing up online. No further legal documentation is necessary. Most importantly, be sure to discuss your decision with your family.

Yes. Once you’ve said Yes at the Driver Services, there is no need to sign up through any other mechanism, unless you change your decision. If you’ve signed up through another mechanism and you are asked about registry status at the Driver Services, it’s important to say Yes, as your most recent decision will be followed. By signing up on the registry, your decision to donate is stored in a secure, confidential database. Should your death result in the opportunity for you to be a donor, an official record of your donor designation will be readily available and your decision to donate will be respected.

You should sign-up. Due to the rapid and emotional nature of events surrounding sudden death, families often do not have time to check legal documents prior to being approached about donation. Without enrolling on the registry, your decision may not be expressed. However, since the registry is viewed in all potential donation cases, we are able to share proof of registration with family members at the time donation is discussed, ensuring your family is informed and your decision is carried out.

All residents who are at least 18 years of age are able to register their authorization to donate specific or all organs and tissues upon their death. Children between the ages of 13 and 17 can join the registry; however, until the designated donor is 18 years old, their parents (or legal guardian) will make the final decision about organ and tissue donation.

Due to federal privacy laws prohibiting the collection of personal information for individuals under age 13, the registry is unable to accept registrations for children 12 years old and younger. Until registrants and non-registrants alike are 18 years old, their parents (or legal guardian) will make the final decision about organ and tissue donation.

The process of donating your whole body to science for research or medical education is a completely separate process outside of the Wyoming Donor Registry. In many cases, both can occur. Even if you have chosen to donate your whole body to science or medical education, you should still register here for the possibility of having organs and tissues be used for transplantation when possible.

You may opt out of donating specific organs and/or tissue while signing up online. Simply state your specification under the“Additional Information” section located near the end of the online registration form. To avoid any ambiguity, make your comments brief and clear.

Federal law does not allow you to restrict your donation to or from specific classes of individuals. Donation is an altruistic gift that is allocated to those most in need.

It is legal to make a “directed donation” of an organ to a specific individual who is actively listed on the National Organ Transplant Wait List (organs may not be directed to a specified group). Directed donation is addressed with the legal next of kin at the time of donation so be sure and discuss with your loved ones.

All states in the U.S. honor individual state registries. If you signed up as a donor via the state donor registry through the Driver Services, there is no need to register elsewhere as registry status is checked through your state of residence. All matters concerning organ and tissue donation are under the jurisdiction of each state’s respective laws. Joining the Donate Life America Centralized Registry is a positive step to reaffirm your decision. Just be sure and say Yes each time you renew your driver license or state ID as your most recent decision is valid. For information on how to become a donor in other states, visit DonateLife.net.

Organ donation is possible when a person has signed a do not resuscitate order (DNR). Staff of the local organ procurement organization that facilitates the donation process, for example Donor Alliance in Wyoming, will communicate with the family to ensure their loved one’s end-of-life preferences are followed and they are able to give the gift of life. In the case of registered brain-dead donors, federal law requires that a patient’s designation as a donor supersede DNR status. Processes necessary to evaluate and manage the lifesaving gift of donation therefore take priority over a DNR.

The process of joining the UNOS National Organ Transplant Waiting List begins with your physician referring you to a transplant center for evaluation. A multidisciplinary team of doctors, transplant surgeons, and medical professionals makes the decision as to whether a patient is a suitable candidate, and whether or not to list the patient for an organ transplant. This decision is based on the status of the patient’s health, his or her medical and social history, and the expectation of improvement after the transplant takes place.

State law prohibits registry information from being sold or shared with any company or government agency. Registry status is only accessed at the time of death and by those agencies who are directly involved in the organ, eye and tissue donation process. The information of all residents, including undocumented residents who decide to register as organ, eye and tissue donors will be kept confidential.