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GET ORGAN DONOR CARD BY POST
Receive a physical organ donor card in the post.
GET DIGITAL DONOR CARD
Download a digital organ donor card for your Google or Apple Wallet.
THE DONOR CARD
The Organ Donor Card is a visual representation of your decision to give the ‘Gift Of Life’ in the event of your death. By signing the card and carrying it with you, you are documenting your wishes to be an organ donor.
The card plays an important role in initiating the ‘Organ Donation Conversation’ with your loved ones. Discussing your wishes openly ensures that your family understands and honours your decision.
Organ Donor Card
Frequently Asked Questions
The organ donor card is not legally binding. It does not serve as legal consent but it can be a meaningful prompt to your family, ensuring your wishes are respected.
Having an Organ Donor Card, either the physical or digital version, acts as a clear reminder of your decision to consent to organ donation. It is not legally binding. You can change your mind about organ donation at any time. If you wish to opt-out of organ donration, you can register yout decision on the Opt-out Register. If a potential organ donor is on this register, their family will not be approached regarding organ donation, and their wishes will be respected. If you change your mind, the Opt-Out Register is set up to allow you to remove your name if you reverse your decision. In the case of a change of mind, make sure your loved ones know your wishes.
We recommend that you carry your card with you at all times, so that in event of sudden untimely death you wishes become known immediately. Organs are only taken from those who die in hospital, usually following admission in an emergency.
Very few medical conditions prevent you from being an organ donor. Some of your organs may not be suitable for donation but others may.
If you have a medical condition, you may still be able to be an organ donor. This will be checked by a healthcare professional and discussed with your next of kin at the time of your death.
This family has a central role in the organ donation process. If the potential donor has registered their decision on the Opt-out Register, the family will not be approached and organ donation will not take place. If the potential donor has not registered their decision on the Opt-out Register, the family will be approached to be asked if their loved one would have had any objection to organ donation going ahead.
Under Ireland’s organ donation law, all adults will be considered potential organ donors unless they officially register their objection via the HSE Opt Out Register.
You may choose which organs you wish to donate. If you would prefer to donate only certain organs, make this clear to your next of kin as they will be asked to give consent in line with the wishes you have shared, so it is important that they understand exactly what your wishes are.