Senator Carlucci Announces Life Saving "Lauren's Law"

Senator Carlucci Introduces Lauren’s Law

Increasing Organ Donations Saves Lives

(Nyack, NY) Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Orange) announced the introduction of life saving legislation, Lauren’s Law today.  Lauren’s Law is named after 10 year old Lauren Shields who received a heart transplant in March of 2009.

Lauren’s Law encourages people to become life saving organ donors by adding a section to the New York State drivers license application that will require applicants to chose “yes” or “not at this time”.  Applications will not be valid unless this section is filled out.  Currently, there is an organ donation section on the application but it is not required to be filled out.

“I can’t stress enough how absolutely critical it is that we find a solution to the low donor enrollment we face here in New York State,”  Senator Carlucci said.  “Every day lives are lost because donor organs are not available.  We cannot just sit by and let this happen anymore.  Lauren’s Law will make people consider organ donation, hopefully growing the organ donor list and saving lives.”

"I don't know who my donor was but I hope to find out some day. They are the angel that saved my life," Lauren Shields said.

"As a parent is was so difficult to watch my daughter's health go from perfect to failing so quickly. While she lay on life support, I looked out the window many nights wondering if it would be the night that she would be saved.  Words cannot express how grateful we are to the donor's family,"  Jeanne Shields, mother of Lauren said. 

Facts about organ donation:

• One organ donor can save up to 8 lives.

• More than 110,000 people in the United States are waiting for heart, kidney, pancreases, lung, liver and intestine transplants.

• In New York State more than 9300 people are on the list for life saving organ transplants.

• On average, 18 people die every day while waiting for organ transplants in the U.S., and every 11 minutes, another name is added to the waiting list.

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