N.Y. gives organ donors final say

NEW YORK, July 23 (UPI) -- New York officials say family members may no longer veto an individual's decision to be an organ donor.

Starting Wednesday, the requirement for family permission to harvest a donor's organs was dropped, according to the New York Department of Health.

"We hope the new concept will make people secure that if they donate, that their wishes will be respected," Elaine Berg, director of the New York Organ Donor Network, told the New York Daily News.

The newspaper said the law previously required transplant centers to get the green light from the donor's family before proceeding. The change converts what had been the donor's "intent" to donate an organ into a "consent," meaning the donor has given final approval.