Apple wants to make it signing up as an organ donor as easy as tapping on an iPhone app.
The Cupertino tech giant said Tuesday that iPhone users will be able to register as organ, eye and tissue donors from the Health app, which comes pre-installed on the phones. The new feature will be available this fall with the release of its updated software, iOS 10.
“It’s a simple process that takes just a few seconds,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, in a statement.
Most people who register as an organ donor do so through their state Department of Motor Vehicles when they apply for their driver’s license. A tiny pink “donor” circle on the California license indicates the driver’s decision, but the information is also accessible by the various state donor registries. People can also register directly online.
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Apple has partnered with a national registry managed by Donate Life America, an alliance of the 58 state-level donor registries. The national registry will store all registrations sent from iPhone users.
By working with the Apple app, “we’re making it easier for people to find out about organ, eye and tissue donation and quickly register,” said said David Fleming, Donate Life America’s president and CEO, in a statement. “This is a huge step forward that will ultimately help save lives.”
More than 120,000 Americans are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, with a new person being added every 10 minutes, according to Donate Life America, which manages the national registry.
While Donate Life estimates half of all American adults are registered as organ donors, thousands die waiting for an organ each year. That’s partly because of the 1 percent of Americans who die each year, only 1 percent are eligible to donate due to the manner or death of lack of viability of the organs, said Hilary Czarda, the group’s spokeswoman and data coordinator.
Date: July 05, 2016