http://micronassociates.net/hi-TECH/2012/05/22/be-an-organ-donor-status-on-facebook/

Micron Associates: Hi! TECH.

Be an Organ Donor Status on Facebook?
Mark Zuckerberg, Chief Executive Officer of Facebook Inc. is urging the members of the world’s biggest social network to share their organ-donor status on the site that aims to encourage more donations and lessen times of waiting for transplants. Users can add donor plans to their profile starting today, just like they already note a hometown or alma mater, Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer. There will also be a link to the official donor registry, the Menlo Park California-based. A number of 114,000 people in the U.S. and millions worldwide are waiting to save a life- heart, liver or kidney transplants. According to the statistics showed by the Micron Associates, many of them more likely 18 at average in a day die due to the fact that there are not enough organs for transplant. Zuckerberg and Sandberg pointed out on the blog that medical experts believe that a wider awareness about organ donation could go a long way toward solving the said crisis. Everyone can play an important role using the power of sharing and connection by just simply telling other people that you are an organ donor.
Today, Facebook added the ability to update a health and wellness section on profiles with organ-donor status. That medical section, debuted earlier this year when Facebook introduced a new timeline format, also lets users add information about illness, weight loss, broken bones, and efforts to quit unhealthy habits.
According to the Director of the division of transplantation at the Health Resources and Services Administration, a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- Richard Durbin,” U.S. organ donations are state-regulated, and sharing plans to become a donor on Facebook probably would not be legally binding.” In order to make donor intentions legally enforceable, people need to enroll in official registries in which links to these registries on its site , Durbin added. While Facebook’s push will probably improve awareness, it probably won’t be enough to get rid of the shortage of transplant organs, Durbin said. News reports says that only 10,000 deaths each year in the U.S. result in organs that can be used for transplant, he said. “Even if everybody eligible to be an organ donor became an organ donor it would not satisfy the need,” Durbin concluded.