Register to be an organ donor through your iPhone

More than 105,000 Americans need a life-saving organ, and over 2,000 are in San Diego alone. Fortunately, people who use iPhones on the iOS 10 (or later) operating system can sign up to be a donor through their device.

A feature in the iPhone's Health app allows U.S. users to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor from their phones. Registrations are submitted directly to the National Donate Life Registry.

"On average, 16 people die every day in the U.S. because there are not enough available organs, and every eight minutes, another person is added to the transplant waiting list," says Dr. Jeffrey Halldorson, a general surgeon affiliated with Sharp Memorial Hospital. "This is a simple and easy way for people to make their intentions about organ donation known before a tragedy strikes."

Why you should become a donor

The U.S. faces an ever-increasing shortage of organ donors. In the past two decades, the number of people in need of transplants has grown tenfold, while the number of deceased donors has remained static.

One organ donor can save up to eight lives, and one tissue donor can improve the lives of up to 50 others. The heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs and intestines are all transplantable organs. Examples of tissue that could save or enhance someone's life include eyes, corneas, heart valves, bones and skin grafts.

How to become a donor

According to Donate Life California, anyone can be considered for organ, eye and tissue donation. And everyone, regardless of age or medical history, is encouraged to sign up as a donor.

To be a donor, individuals in the U.S. must register with their state's organ donation registry — or the decision rests with their relatives. This choice can be agonizing for families who don't know their loved one's wishes.

Factors considered for organ donations include:

• Recipient’s medical urgency and length on time on the waiting list

• Blood type

• Genetic makeup

• Tissue type

• Body size

For more than three decades, Sharp HealthCare has been at the forefront of organ transplantation in San Diego. Sharp’s transplant program has one of the highest patient survival rates in the country, and the organization’s transplant teams have helped change the lives of many patients through kidney, pancreas, heart and multi-organ transplant procedures.

Sharp Memorial alone has facilitated more than 3,120 transplants since 1985. In 2024, this totaled 101 kidneys, 16 hearts, and 4 kidney-pancreas transplants.

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