Colorado on October 15th will become the seventh U.S. state to implement a new law giving a dying patient -- not the patient's families -- the final decision on donating their organs for transplantation.

Until recently, the next-of-kin of brain-dead patients throughout the United States have had the word as to whether to their relative's organs could be transplanted -- even if the dying person had signaled a desire to be an organ donor by signing a donor card.

But one by one, states have been enacting laws making it no longer necessary to secure consent from next-of-kin if intent of a person to be a donor is clear.

In the case of Colorado, the Donor Alliance -- the organ procurement program serving that state -- has created a database of persons who have significated their desire to donate, and the database recently was made accessible to most Colorado Hospitals.

"In the past, we didn't know how many would-be donors we missed because the families decided against it," said Ron King, spokesman for Donor Alliance. "This will give the final say to the donor."

Supporters hope the change will help reverse what has been a downward trend this year in donations in Colorado. At this time last year, 60 donors in Colorado had given their organs for transplantation to waiting patients, compared to only 45 this year.

Other sources: Denver Media, AP