Should You Put 'Organ Donor' on Your License?

The conspiracies and facts on organ donation

Mar. 22, 2026 at 6:39pm

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This article explores the debate around whether to designate oneself as an organ donor on a driver's license. It discusses concerns some people have about doctors potentially rushing to declare brain death in order to harvest organs, as well as the Mayo Clinic's perspective refuting those myths. The article encourages readers to research the topic themselves or designate someone to make the decision for them.

Why it matters

Organ donation is a sensitive and complex issue, with some people hesitant to sign up due to misconceptions or conspiracy theories. Understanding the facts around brain death criteria and the organ donation process can help individuals make an informed decision about whether to register as an organ donor.

The details

The article cites a definition of 'brain dead' from the Uniform Determination of Death Act, which states that a brain-dead person cannot breathe on their own, regulate their body temperature, or have functioning kidneys and digestive organs. However, it also notes that there have been rare cases of 'brain-dead' patients living for almost a year. The Mayo Clinic is cited as urging most people to become organ donors and refuting common myths about the process.

  • The Uniform Determination of Death Act was passed in 1981.

The players

Kathrrine Pitcher

An author who wrote an article titled 'I removed myself from the organ donor registry... here's why.'

Mayo Clinic

A renowned medical institution that provides information about organ donation and refutes common myths.

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What they’re saying

“A person with zero brain function as defined by the UDDA cannot take a single breath on her own, and her heart can only beat from 48 hours up to 1 week with the help of a ventilator. She cannot regulate her own body temperature, and her kidneys and digestive organs will stop working after about a week.”

— Kathrrine Pitcher, Author

“If you're worried about these factors when deciding whether to place that red heart on your driver's license, I would urge you to consider doing some research on your own or just designate someone to make the decision for you (after going through your opinion at length).”

— Isabella Taylor, Student Writer

The takeaway

Organ donation is a complex and sensitive issue, with some people hesitant to sign up due to misconceptions or conspiracy theories. Thoroughly researching the facts around brain death criteria and the organ donation process can help individuals make an informed decision about whether to register as an organ donor.