HALO Helpline/Prayerline 1(800)221-HALO(4256)

HALO Voice

Defending Life

Organ Donation

Organ Donation

Organ Donation Fact Sheet

Download pdf

The Apnea Test: unverified, unsafe, and unnecessary

By Heidi Klessig MD, Respect for Human Life, March 23, 2026

Apnea testing is a component of the American Academy of Neurology’s guideline for the diagnosis of brain death/death by neurologic criteria. The intent of the apnea test is to evaluate for spontaneous breathing, but the test itself is unverified, has no benefit for the patient, and entails significant risks. In fact, the Guideline itself states that there is a lack of scientific evidence to support the recommended parameters of the apnea test.
Read more…

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEOS EXPLAINING "BRAIN DEATH"

Addendum To My Medical Power Of Attorney (PDF)

Organ Donation On Trial (PDF)

I Refuse To Be
An Organ Donor

Every state maintains an Organ Donor Registry listing people who have agreed to be organ donors, either by driver’s license or by signing an organ donor card. NO STATE (according to HALO’s research) has a registry for those who do not want to be organ donors. Therefore, it’s up to you to protect yourself. Sign and carry this wallet card with you.

To request cards, email feedback@halovoice.org. Be certain to Include your mailing address with your request.

Donations accepted!

Removing Yourself From A Donor Registery

DOWNLOAD

Check Your Driver’s License:
You May Be An Unintentional Donor

The following is a response to Julie Grimstad’s article on “brain death” which Matt Abbott published in his Renew America column, April 23, 2019. See http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/190423
 
A few years back, I went to renew my driver’s license and did not check the square to indicate “Donor.” I started to slide my new license into my wallet, and almost didn’t notice the word “donor” under my right thumb in the lower right corner. (Like most people, I’m right-handed and it’s natural to hold it there.) I went back in immediately and asked if I’d done something wrong on my application; I had not. The DMV clerk tried twice before she did what she called a “manual override” to issue my card without the word “donor” on it. She used the time it took to lecture me, though, about my “social responsibility” to help others with my parts, since I will “be dead, anyway.” I told her I’m not opposed to donation—my mother received a kidney from a donor—but I don’t want to be seen merely as the sum of my parts.
 
As I left the DMV, I wondered if there were other unintentional “donors” walking around, like I would have been had I not noticed the error. I had to wonder also if the system is set to default to “donor” or if, once you check the box, it stays checked.
 
Note: Tonchi emailed HALO to request an “I Refuse to be an Organ Donor” card, which we promptly sent to her.

My Son’s Story Must Be Told: Young Man, Healthy Organs – Ideal Organ Donor

By Paul E. Robinson

At 8:42 PM on November 3, 2015, a young Arizona man on a mountain bike was struck from behind by a car. This man was my son, Paul, Jr. (PJ).

911 was called. A unit of the Phoenix Fire Department arrived on the scene within minutes. PJ was unconscious with labored breathing, blood in his mouth, and cuts on his eyebrows. No I.D. was found, and his fingerprints were not on file, so the sheriff’s office reported he was “an unidentified male thought to be in his mid-20s.” There was a question mark under “ethnicity” and his “language” was marked unknown. This led to speculation that my son might be a homeless, illegal alien. My African-American son was bright-skinned, so it was no great leap to think he was Hispanic. Read more…