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An additional 20,000 New Brunswickers have consented over the past year to be organ or tissue donors, Health Minister Michael Murphy said at the start of National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week.

A year ago, a new process was put in place to allow New Brunswickers to indicate on their Medicare card their intention to become an organ and tissue donor in the event of their death.

“There is a section with the Medicare renewal form where an individual gives written consent to become a donor and then receives a Medicare card with ‘Donor/Donneur’ embossed on it,” Murphy said. “For those who have yet to renew their Medicare card, a call to the toll-free Service New Brunswick line (1-888-762-8600) ensures their wish will be registered. Following this, a sticker is sent as a temporary marker for their Medicare card.”

Murphy said he is pleased to see that this new process has encouraged even more New Brunswickers to choose to become donors.

National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week is being recognized from April 20 - 26.

“By recognizing this as National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week, we hope the issue will become forefront in everyone’s mind and they will choose to give life to others in the event of their death,” said Murphy. “I would encourage all New Brunswickers to consider the option of a gift of life and then to inform family members of their decision to be an organ and tissue donor.”