Return to Article Dr Huerta: Minority Organ Donation Winning the Waiting Game Not Too Old to Give—or Receive

	The largest group of Americans awaiting organ transplants are those ages 50 to 64.
	More than 40,000 people will be added to the national transplant waiting list this year. Just over 28,000 transplants were performed last year.
	More than 20,000 organs that could have been transplanted are buried or cremated each year.

	People of all ages can be tissue and organ donors. Overall health, not age, is what’s important.
	Organs, or parts of organs, that can be transplanted include the kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas, cornea, and intestine. The heart is the only organ that cannot come from a living donor.
	Organ donation does not conflict with the tenets of any major religion.
	You can register to donate at most state motor vehicle departments.
	Even if you are a registered donor, family members ultimately decide whether your organs may be donated after you die. So clarifying your wishes to friends and family is essential.