Organ Donation in Michigan

Organ Donation in Michigan

Michigan's organ donor registration is administered by the Michigan Department of State.

Approximately 2,400 people in Michigan are waiting for organ donations, including more than 1,900 people waiting for kidney transplants and over 100 people waiting for liver transplants. Nationwide, there are more than 103,000 people waiting for organ donations.

There are no fees to join the organ donor registry or donate organs. All costs associated with organ transplant are paid by the organ procurement organization.

Sign up today to raise the number of total registration and offer hope to all those who are waiting for an organ transplant.

Organ Donor Facts

Being an organ donor is a simple, selfless act. Here are some basic facts about organ donation:

  • In Michigan, there are thousands of people currently on the waiting list for a transplant.
  • Hundreds will receive transplants; many will die waiting for one.
  • Anyone can register as a potential donor.
  • A decision on whether your organs are suitable for transplant won't be made until after your death.
  • There's never a charge to a donor or their family for a donation, nor will donating interfere with having a funeral―and even an open casket.

For more information, please visit our pages about Organ Donation Facts and Organ Donation Myths.

Register as an Organ Donor in Michigan

You can register to become an organ donor in Michigan either online or in person at your local MI SOS office.

NOTE: A driver's license, state ID card, or Social Security number is not required to register as an organ donor in Michigan. If registering online, simply answer "no" to the question "Do you have a valid Michigan Driver's License or State Identification Card?"

Online

To sign up online, you may visit:

Registering is an easy, private, and confidential act.

In Person

NOTE: This method does not place you on the donor registry―potentially creating a delay after your death. Refer above to find out how to register online with the registry.

You also can indicate your wishes with a sticker on the back of your driver license or state-issued ID card. If you register to be a donor before it is time to renew your driver's license or state ID, a heart sticker will be affixed to your ID card. The sticker is available free at Secretary of Statebranch offices.

Both methods allow you to specify which organs or types of tissue you wish to donate.

Update/Change Your Organ Donation Status

You can update your organ donor profile online at the Michigan SOS website, or through ORGANIZE.org's national database.

If your organ donation sticker has been lost or damaged, you will need to request a replacement sticker for your driver's license.

How You Can Help With Organ Donation

There are other ways to show your support for organ donation in Michigan. You can:

  • Become an organ donor. Liver transplants, lung transplants, and kidney transplants are possible with living donors.
  • Provide funding by ordering a Donate Life license plate for your car.
  • Support organ donation through corporate partnerships and personal monetary donations.
  • Volunteer with Gift of Life Michigan. Volunteers are trained to provide organ donation facts, educate the public, and share their personal stories about organ donation.

Gift of Life Michigan

Gift of Life Michigan, a nonprofit organization that oversees the registry, helps get information out to potential donors and connects donor hospitals with transplant centers.

The agency urges you to speak with your family about your decision. If you make your wishes clear, confusion and delay will be minimized after your death, and your family will be spared from making painful decisions during their time of loss.

How Organ Donation Works

Organ donation procedures are started only after brain death. If a patient is declared brain dead, the organ donor registry is checked to see if the patient declared an intention to be an organ donor. Gift of Life will assess possible donors to find out if they are good candidates for organ or tissue donation. If no registration can be found, the patient's family will be asked to decide whether organs will be donated, which is why it's crucial to inform your family of your wishes.

For detailed information, please read our page about How Organ Donation Works.

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