- “They won't try as hard to save me.”
- The transplant team is entirely separate from the team treating you, and isn't involved until after death is declared — by criteria that have nothing to do with donation. Your care comes first, always.
- “I'm too old, or too sick, to donate.”
- Medical suitability is assessed at the time of death, not by you now. People well into their 80s have donated. Rule yourself in, not out — let the doctors decide.
- “My religion forbids it.”
- Most major religions permit or actively support organ donation as an act of generosity. If you're unsure, ask your faith leader directly rather than assuming.
- “I checked a box at the DMV years ago — I'm covered.”
- Maybe. Registries change, and a decision from years ago may not have carried over. It takes two minutes to verify you're actually on your state's registry.
- “My family can just override my decision.”
- In most states, a first-person registration is legally binding — it authorizes donation on your behalf. A documented decision spares your family from guessing in the hardest moment, and holds up when it matters.
