Anyone who registers as a potential organ donor will be eligible immediately for high priority for obtaining an organ for himself.
By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHAdi organ donor card 311(photo credit: courtesy)
Due to the population’s surge of interest in obtaining an organ donor card, the Adi-National Israel Transplant Center has extended through March 31 the deadline to register as a donor and receive special benefits.Anyone who registers as a potential organ donor will be eligible immediately for high priority for obtaining an organ for himself or a first-degree relative and does not have to wait for this privilege for three more years.
The deadline was supposed to be December 31.During the past few weeks, Adi’s phone system has collapsed several times due to the high demand.Since Adi decided to give preferential treatment to those registering as a potential organ donor, tens of thousands of people have registered, raising the number of potential donors to over 600,000. Until last year, the rate of registration was among the lowest in the Western world.An Adi card can be canceled at any time by e-mailing Adi or sending a fax to 03-606-1845. If registration is canceled, there are no special benefits to the member or his family.Adi can be reached at 1-800-609-610; the Web site in English is at www.kartisadi.org.il/eng/index.html. The e-mail address is addy@moh.health.gov.il.
