Apple's iOS 10 Will Include Option to Become Organ Donor
A few quick steps will get users who opt in on the national registry.
— -- Apple announced today it will give users the option to sign up as organ and tissue donors in the updated Health app being rolled out with iOS 10 this fall.
Furthering the company's quest to make the iPhone a valuable tool when it comes to taking charge of one's health, users will be able to sign up with a few taps before their registrations are sent to the National Donate Life Registry.
Apple's Medical ID can be accessed from a locked iPhone screen, allowing first responders to gain valuable information about a person in the event of an emergency, including contacts, blood type, medical conditions and allergies.
More than 120,000 Americans are on the organ donation wait list, with one person joining the queue every 10 minutes.
"On average, one person dies every hour in the United States waiting for an organ transplant because the demand for lifesaving transplants far exceeds the available supply of organs -- and one donor can save as many as eight lives," David Fleming, president and CEO of Donate Life America, said in a statement. "By working with Apple to bring the National Donate Life Registry to the Health app on iPhone, we're making it easier for people to find out about organ, eye and tissue donation and quickly register. This is a huge step forward that will ultimately help save lives."
Apple's Health app serves as a dashboard where users can get a breakdown of their overall health by using data pulled in from other apps. If you're an iPhone user and haven't already filled out your Medical ID, you can do so by opening the Health app (it's a heart icon) and choosing the "Medical ID" option in the bottom right corner.