Washington and Montana legislators recently passed laws to establish donor registries, creating statewide databases where individuals’ wishes to donate can be officially recorded and documented. These registries will give participants greater assurance that their desires will be honored, as well as offering family members, already coping with sudden loss, the comfort of knowing exactly what their loved ones wanted.

“These registries will give participants greater assurance that their desires will be honored, as well as offering family members, already coping with sudden loss, the comfort of knowing exactly what their loved ones wanted.”

The program in both states will be administered through the Department of Licensing, which already serves a vital function by allowing individuals to designate their intentions on their driver’s licenses. Now, that information will be entered into a larger database, and participants will be able to specify in greater detail through a website which tissues and organs they wish to donate. Later, their signatures will be recorded to make the process of informed consent more complete.

Montana Governor Judy Martz signed her state’s bill at a press conference on April 4th, during which she challenged all Montanans to register to become donors. Governor Gary Locke signed the Washington bill at the beginning of a Seattle Mariners’ game May 6, accompanied by Karen Moyer, who with her husband, Mariner pitcher Jamie Moyer, is a well-known donation advocate. Twelve-year-old kidney recipient Donald Horn threw the first pitch.