With hundreds awaiting organ donations, B.C. residents to see prompt on tax returns

Health authorities in British Columbia say nearly 500 people in the province received a life-saving organ transplant in 2024. A liver is prepared for transport after it was been removed from an organ donor June 15, 2023, in Jackson, Tenn. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Mark Humphrey

As hundreds of B.C. residents await life-saving organ donations, officials are encouraging more people to consider registering – including through a new checkbox on their tax returns.

The checkbox will only ask recipients if they would like to receive information about becoming an organ donor, according to the Provincial Health Services Authority. Those who accept will receive an email from B.C. Transplant later in the year.

The collaboration with the Canada Revenue Agency is intended to “help normalize conversations about organ donation,” said Dr. Sean Keenan, B.C. Transplant’s provincial medical director of donation services, in a news release.

“We need to be flexible and innovative to evolve and continue the important work of ensuring every family has the right to consider organ donation at the end of life,” Keenan said.

According to officials, 481 B.C. residents received a life-saving organ transplant last year through donations from more than 200 people, living and dead.

Among them was Holly Warner’s son Benjamin, whose organs helped save three different people after his own life was cut short last August at age 37.

“Benjamin always wanted to help people, and I think this last act of kindness would mean a lot to him, as it does to us,” said Warner, in a statement shared by B.C. Transplant.

Many others are still awaiting help. There were 666 people holding out hope for a donation as of Dec. 31, according to Keenan’s organization.

B.C. residents can register to become an organ donor online using their personal health number.