If you are in a situation where donation is possible, a health professional will have a conversation with your family or whānau. They will ask your family or whānau for their agreement to donate and which organs and tissues they will donate.
This is why it's important to have a conversation now with your family, close relations or those people who would be called to your bedside in an emergency.
Use the worksheets below as a guide to learn more about organ and tissue donation and to make a decision that is right for you. Then have a conversation about your wishes with your loved ones.
Download the worksheet below and use the questions as a guide to learn more about organ and tissue donation.
Click here for frequently asked questions about organ and tissue donation and answers to common myths and misunderstandings.
Discuss your thoughts on organ and tissue donation with your family or whānau, significant others or those people who would be at your beside if you were critically ill.
Decide what you would want to happen in the event of your death. Would you want to be a donor? If yes, what organs and tissues would you choose to donate?
Have the conversation with your wider family or whānau – this may be your brothers and sisters, parents, children or close friends. Let them know your thoughts on organ and tissue donation and find out what they would want to happen in the event of their death.
Once you have done this, you may also wish to indicate that you are a donor on your New Zealand driver licence. You can do this when you apply for or renew your licence.
Remember that the driver licence records an indication of your wishes only, it is not an organ donor register. The most important step is to let your family/whānau know your wishes regarding donation.
