According to the organ donation sector of the Department of Health and Human Services, 70 people receive organ transplants each day, but an average of 16 other people dies from lack of available organs. It is sad when you think that these people died not because of unknown causes, but simply because of shortages in the cure.
Becoming an organ and tissue donor is easy; all you have to do is request to be one on your donor card and/or driver’s license. However, the choice should not be made so quickly. Giving up your organs after your passing is something that needs to be discussed with your family members as well.
This being said, organ donation does not put your life in jeopardy. For example, some people believe that doctors will not try as hard to save your life if you are an organ donor. The truth is, the medical team who saves your life it the same one that handles donations and transplants. Transplant surgeons are only called in to accept the donations after every effort to save your life has been exhausted.
In a nutshell, your organs will not be confiscated prematurely. The buying and selling of organs in the U.S. is punishable under Federal law, and can result in prison sentences and steep fines.
Most organs (heart, liver, lungs, and pancreas) can only be taken upon the donor’s death. However, you can donate a kidney or bone marrow at any time. Blood donors are also always needed. The Red Cross is currently experiencing a drastic need for blood. If you are having hip replacement surgery, you can give unneeded bone to someone who needs marrow. Believe it or not, you can safely give a kidney or part of one while you are still alive. The procedure is extremely safe. There is about a one in 3,000 chance of dying from the surgery. You must plan to take about six weeks off work and there is some pain and discomfort due to the incision. Before you can be accepted though, you must be carefully evaluated. This is the same for any living organ donation. There is one risk associated with donating organs, and that is organ rejection. If you are the organ recipient, this is the attempt your body makes to reject or eliminate your newly transplanted organ because your body recognizes it as a "foreign" presence in your body. This will often happen within two or three months after the surgery and if detected in time, can be reversed successfully. However, some people die from organ rejection.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a high school program that familiarizes kids about the benefits of and the importance of organ donation. The program is called Decision: Donation; its purpose is to prepare kids so that they will know whether or not they want to be a donor when they get their license. Public and private educators use a wide range of materials, including videos and web-based interactive student activities, to integrate organ and tissue donation information into their existing curriculums.
Perhaps if everyone knew the facts behind organ donation there would be more donors. For instance, not many people know that more than 86,000 men, women and children are currently awaiting life-saving transplants, and that every 13 minutes another name is added to the transplant waiting list.
By Kelley Caner