The Donate Life Mississippi registry allows Mississippi residents who are at least 18 years of age to register their authorization to donate their organs, tissues and eyes upon their death. Final decisions about donation for Mississippi residents under the age of 18 must be made by their parents or a legal guardian at the appropriate time.

Young and elderly can be considered potential donors. No one should eliminate themselves as a donor because of age or pre-existing medical condition. Each potential organ, eye and tissue donor is evaluated on an individual basis for suitability

Organ donation includes

• Heart
• Liver
• Kidneys
• Lungs
• Pancreas
• Small Intestine

Tissue donation includes:

• Corneas
• Eyes
• Skin
• Bone
• Tendons
• Ligaments
• Vessels
• Heart valves

Sharing your decision to become a donor is just as important as making the decision. Joining the Mississippi Donor Registry is more than just an expression of interest in becoming a donor. It is consent for organ, eye and tissue donation upon your death. Losing a loved one is an emotional time for family members. If they are aware of your decision, it will avoid confusion and they will be comforted that your wishes are being carried out. It's also important to tell family members about your decision because medical and social history is needed at the time of death, and the next-of-kin will be approached for that information.

Once you enroll with the Mississippi Donor Registry, your donor designation grants authorization for organ, eye and tissue recovery. Should you be in the position to donate, your next of kin will be presented with documentation of your registration but will not have the power to override your decision. It is important to tell your next of kin or healthcare power of attorney of your wishes so they will be prepared to cooperate with the health care team about your medical history.

With the Mississippi Donor Registry, your desire 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 cannot be overturned by your family. Thus, should you be medically suitable to donate, your wishes will be respected and your family will be relieved of the burden of making a decision on your behalf.

Do not rule yourself out. The fact that you want to be a donor is something to be celebrated, and we encourage you to register your decision with pride. Age, most medical conditions or sexual orientation do not exclude you from being a suitable organ, eye and tissue donor. (In fact, there has recently been a 93-year-old kidney donor, and 83-year-old liver donor and a 99-year-old cornea donor!) There are very few automatic rule-outs, and due to medical advancements, rule-outs change over time. In the event you are in a position to be an actual donor, medical specialists will evaluate your medical history to determine your suitability to donate.

The Mississippi Donor Rgistry only accepts enrollments on residents 18 years of age and older. Until registrants and non-registrants alike are 18 years old, their parents (or legal guardians) will make the final decision about organ, eye and tissue donation at the appropriate time. Your wish to make that decision for your children should be shared with your family.

Of the 40+ state donor registries now in operation, to date there have been no reported problems with persons registering people other than themselves. The authenticity of the registrant can be determined using the date/time of the registration and the personal information requested during the enrollment process. Family members are also consulted at the time of donation and will be able to verify the donor’s information at that time.

Yes, take the opportunity to enroll. Due to the rapid and emotional nature of events surrounding sudden death, often times families do not have time to check legal documents prior to being approached about donation. However, since the Donate Life Mississippi registry is viewed in all potential donation cases prior to approaching the family, recovery personnel are able to share proof of registration with family members at the time donation is discussed with them.

Federal law does not allow you to restrict your donation to or from specific groups or classes of individuals.

All matters concerning organ, eye and tissue donation are under the jurisdiction of each state’s or country’s respective laws. While your Mississippi Donor Registry enrollment may not serve as legally binding consent for donation outside of Mississippi, it will serve as a clear indication of your wish to donate and will be shared with your family when they are approached by the local recovery agency.