Organ Donation-A Clinical Perspective (edited)

I have been holding this advice in my head for a while now. I was inspired to write it after reading another piece of advice on organ donation. It is something I feel very passionate about. Although I personally have not been affected by a friend or family member needing a transplant, as a nurse, I have taken care of many patients in need of or post organ transplantation. I have seen first hand how organ transplantation can change someone’s life. As many as 50 people can benefit from one person donating their organs and tissues.  

As of today, there are 98,017 people on the organ transplant waiting list in the USA. From January to July 2007 there were 16,761 donations from 8,463 donors in the USA. There are 3000 people on the official organ and transplant waiting list in Australia. Australia has one of the highest success rates in organ and tissue transplantation yet one of the lowest organ and tissue donation rates in the world.  

Organ donation is the process of giving an organ or part of an organ for transplantation. If the organ comes from a deceased donor the kidneys, pancreas, liver, heart, lungs, and/or intestinal organs can be donated. Tissues that can be donated are skin, bone, tendons, cornea, and heart valves.  If the organ comes from a living donor, part of the liver, lung, pancreas, or intestine or a kidney may be donated.  

Many people are afraid of organ donation. This fear comes from lack of knowledge about what happens to the person donating their organs. This is an ever changing situation depending on each individual.   

If the donor is a living donor, this person would have to be matched and approved as a donor and would be informed by his or her doctor.   If it is a situation where there is brain death, then the organ procurement agency will have a coordinator, usually a nurse, monitoring the patient and treating any ongoing issues until they are able to do the actual organ procurement. These issues are often related to temperature control and blood pressure control.   

If it is a situation where death has already occurred, donation is still an option. In most circumstances, the internal organs won’t be able to be used but there are plenty of other tissues that can be donated.  

At all times, the donor is treated with the utmost respect and dignity.  

There are a lot of myths associated with being an organ donor…    

• Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or previous medical history.   
  
• I was under the impression there were religions that were against organ donation. This is untrue. All major religions (in the US) approve of organ donation and view it as a gift of charity.    
  
• Another is that your financial or celebrity status will move you to the top of the transplant list. This is untrue. There are many factors that are weighed including time on the list, severity of disease, match with donor, and other medical information, not financial or celebrity status.
  
• One that I find mortifying is that people believe that if you are an organ donor and you are in the ER or hospital they won’t treat you to “get” your organs. As a medical professional, I am appalled that anyone could think this. Patients are patients regardless of their organ donation preference. And all medical professionals will work to save a life.
  
• Agreeing to organ donation will not affect how the body looks in the casket. Organ procurement is done by surgery and will not disfigure the donor.
  
• There is no cost to the family of the donor.
  
• Simply signing the donor card and ticking it on your driver’s license may not be enough to satisfy the requirements for organ donation. Please make sure your family is aware of your wishes.
  

If organ donation is something you would like to do after you die, please do all you can to make that happen. There are far more people in need than there are donors. People are dying needlessly because people haven’t expressed their wishes or signed up to donate. I will try to include some of the major organ donation registry sites for the countries I am familiar with.   

If organ donation is something you would like to do, research your state or country and find out what the laws are regarding donation. Most importantly, express your wishes to your family. They will be the ones making the decisions regarding your and your organs in the situation where you are unable to do so.   

Don’t take em with you! Donate and save a life.