New York Governor David A. Paterson has signed into law A.10664/S.4999-A, which allows online registration for organ and tissue donors. The registration is on the New York State Department of Health's website, the Donate Life Registry.

The use of an online registry simplifies the process to donate organs and tissues at the time of death, for either research or transplantation, by allowing the use of an electronic signature for consent. Prior to the website option, those who wished to donate indicated the choice on their driver's license, when registering to vote or using a paper Department of Health form. Those options are still available in addition to the online registration.

"Today, approximately 108,000 people -- 9,600 of them New Yorkers -- are on the national waiting list for organ transplants. On average, 19 people die every day in United States because they did not receive a desperately needed organ," Governor Paterson said in a press release. "I have heard from many New Yorkers on this issue, including from some whose loved ones have died or may die because the supply of organs is outpaced by the demand. The bill I have signed into law will allow online enrollment with the Donate Life Registry, making it much easier to register as a donor and thereby increasing the number of people who do so."

According to the Organdonor.gov, a federal government resource on organ and tissue donation, people of all ages can consider themselves potential donors. The absolute exclusion on donation is being HIV positive, having active cancer, or systemic infection. Otherwise there are no strict age limits. Usually, a potential donor is evaluated at the time of donation with several factors taken into account -- general health, types of illnesses in one's history, urgency of need and the type of organ or tissue donated.

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