More Rochester area residents are choosing to donate their organs after they die.
As of this month, 35 percent of those eligible in Monroe County have signed up on the New York State's organ donation registry, up from 33 percent a year ago and 26 percent in 2013.
That includes a 10 percent increase in organ donation registrations through Department of Motor Vehicle offices in Monroe County, which have been promoting organ donation awareness.
The registration rate for the 20-county upstate region served by the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network is 36 percent.
Reasons for the increase may include changes that make it easier for New Yorkers to register when they renew their driver's license or get a new one.
Rob Kochik, executive director of the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network, says some states ask drivers to answer "yes" or "no" to whether they want to become an organ donor, but New York does it differently.
"We always know what yes means; we never quite know what 'no' means,” he said. “I think New York got it right by having it be yes or skipping the question because if someone is not quite ready or they haven't made up their mind, or perhaps they just don't want the heart (symbol) on their license, they can just skip the question."
The higher registration rates may also be attributed, in part, to better messaging. The Donor Recovery Network’s slogan is “Pass Life On”. It used to be “Become an Organ Donor Today,” and Kochik said some people apparently took that literally.
"We're not asking you to become an organ donor today. We're hoping that you live life to the fullest and have health lives for many years to come. We're asking you to pass life on and help others."
Overall, 28 percent of New Yorkers who are eligible organ donors have signed the registry, compared to 52 percent nationally.
In February, New York state began allowing 16 and 17 year olds to register with the consent of their parent or guardian.
