Over 13,000 New Organ Donor Registrants in New York on Anniversary of Lauren’s Law

Today Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) celebrated the one year anniversary of Lauren’s Law at the Student Union of SUNY Rockland Community College. According to the New York State Department of Health, since the law went into effect last year, Lauren’s Law has added over 13,000 new donors to the New York State Donate Life Organ Donor Registry.

These additional organ donor registrants can potentially save thousands of lives though organ transplantation and improve the lives of many more through the gift of sight and tissue donation.

Senator Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) said, “I am incredibly proud to have been a part of Lauren’s Law and being able to get over 13,000 new organ donors registered in New York. I hope more New Yorkers will show their support for those in need and become donors. Lauren’s determination and desire to advocate for others will save countless lives.”

Lauren’s Law, sponsored by Senator Carlucci, requires all New York State drivers to decide whether to become organ donors on the driver’s license application instead of opting out by default. Lauren’s Law is named for Lauren Shields of Stony Point, who received a heart transplant when she was nine years old.

Lauren Shields said, “I never want anyone to have to wait for a transplant like I did. Working with Senator Carlucci, we have increased the amount of registered donors which will help to save lives.”

“The New York Organ Donor Network is grateful to Senator Carlucci and Lauren Shields for their efforts to register more New Yorkers for organ donation,” said Helen Irving, President and CEO of the New York Organ Donor Network. “Through their passion to help fellow New Yorkers, they have given hope to those in need while demonstrating that transplantation really saves lives.”

The New York Organ Donor Network launched their Long Live NY campaign this week to enlist more New Yorkers to get registered as organ donors. The Network released data showing that although 83% of New Yorkers support organ donations, but just 23just 23 % are actually registered.

Organ donation is vital to saving lives, especially in New York, which has the third longest list of patients waiting to receive organ donations. In fact, one New Yorker dies waiting for an organ every fifteen hours due to the long waiting list.

Fellow organ donor recipient Roxanne Watson, who has dedicated her life to helping increase donor registration after her heart transplant said, “We are tremendously thankful to Senator Carlucci and Lauren Shields for helping get more organ donors registered in New York. The more donor registrants we have, the greater the potential to save more lives.”