The upcoming release of iOS 10 will include something that has never been done before. For the first time ever, iPhone users will be able to sign up to be an organ donor right through the Health app on their phones.
Apple has announced how this will work. First, an iPhone user needs to open the Health app on their iPhone. Users can sign up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor right through that app. It is a simple process.
All organ donor registrations that are submitted from iPhone are sent directly to National Donate Life Registry, which is managed by Donate Life America. Apple points out that the ability to quickly and easily become a nationally-registered donor enables people to carry their decision with them wherever they go.
The Health app on iPhone includes Medical ID, which makes critical health information available in case of an emergency to first responders and is accessible from the iPhone lock screen. Medical ID can display categories like medical conditions, allergies, medications, blood type, and emergency contacts.
Donate Life America is a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and state teams across the United States committed to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation. They explain the need for organ donation very clearly:
Over 120,000 Americans are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant – and every 10 minutes, a new individual is added to the national transplant waiting list. Each organ donor can save as many as eight lives and heal many more through the gifts of tissue and eye donation.
The developer preview of iOS 10 is currently available to iOS Developer Program members. A public beta program will be available to iOS users later this month. The iOS 10 release will be available this fall as a free software update.