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Remember This:
One donor
can:
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Donate kidneys to
free two people from dialysis treatments needed to sustain life.
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Save the lives of
patients awaiting heart, liver, lung or pancreas transplants.
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Give sight to two
people through the donation of corneas.
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Donate bone to help
repair injured joints or to help save an arm or leg threatened by cancer.
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Help burn victims
heal more quickly through donation of skin, and provide healthy heart valves
for someone whose life is threatened by malfunctioning or diseased valves.
Fast
Facts
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Today, there are
more than 90,000 Americans registered with the United Network for Organ
Sharing on transplant waiting lists.
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Every year, an
estimated 6,000 people die while waiting for organ transplants.
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In 1988, 4,080
people donated organs after death. In 2004, donations had nearly doubled to
7,150.
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Organ donation
occurred in only .0025% of all deaths in the United States.
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One individual who
donates after death can provide organs, corneas, skin, bone and tissue for 50
or more people in need.
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In 2004, there were
27,033 organ transplants performed in the United States.
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An estimated
220,000 Americans are treated with transplanted bone and tissue each year.
Tissues include tendons and ligaments, skin used to treat burns, heart valves
and eye corneas.
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About 46,000 cornea
transplants are performed annually, with more than 5,000 people waiting for
donated corneas.
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The largest number
of children who need organ transplants are waiting for kidney donations.
Approximately 13% of patients on the national kidney waiting list are children
less than 18 years of age. Almost 1% are age five and under.
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Almost 44% of
people waiting for organ transplants are between the ages of 18 and 49.
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By gender, 57% of
Americans waiting for donated organs are male; 43% are female.
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African-Americans,
who represent 27% of the national population, receive more than 40% of all
kidney transplants. Because of specific medical conditions, including diabetes
and high blood pressure, African-Americans suffer a disproportionately high
rate of End Stage Renal Disease (kidney failure). There are currently more
than 24,000 African Americans waiting for kidney or kidney-pancreas
transplants nationwide.
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Survival rates for
organ recipients continue to rise. The one year survival rate for kidney
recipients is 95%, for heart recipients, 85%, for liver recipients, 77%, and
for pancreas recipients, almost 77%. Between 1996 and 2001, one year survival
rates for lung recipients increased by almost 34%.
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There is no cost to
be an organ and tissue donor. Donation is a gift.
Myths
& Misconceptions
Myth:
If I am admitted to the hospital and they are aware that I have signed a donor
card, I will not be treated as aggressively because of the need for organs.
Fact:
The
decision to sign a donor card will in no way affect the level of medical care
for sick or injured person. The team of doctors and nurses involved in treating
the patient is not involved with the transplant/recovery team, which is called
in only after death has occurred or is imminent.
Myth:
Having "organ donor" noted on your driver's license or carrying a donor card is
all you have to do to become a donor.
Fact: While a
signed donor card and a driver's license with an "organ donor" designation are
legal documents, organ and tissue donation is always discussed with family
members prior to the donation. To ensure that your family understands your
wishes, it is important that you share your decision to donate LIFE.
Myth:
I am 60 years old. I am too old to be a donor.
Fact:
People
of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential donors.
Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and
tissue can be donated.
Myth:
My religious beliefs prevent me from considering organ donation.
Fact:
Major
religions support organ donation. In fact, the Rabbinical Council of America has
approved organ donation and Pope John Paul II referred to organ donation as an
act of great love.
Myth:
Organ transplants can be "bought" by the wealthy and powerful.
Fact:
Organs
are computer matched according to compatibility of donor and recipient tissues,
determined by various tests, waiting time, and the medical need of the
recipient. Social or financial data are not part of the computer database and,
therefore, are not factors in the determination of who receives an organ.
Myth:
The body is often mutilated to obtain organs and tissues.
Fact: There is no
marring of the body during organ or tissue recovery. The organs and tissue are
removed with dignity, in a sterile surgical procedure like that performed on a
living patient.
Myth:
If a person donates his organs or tissue, a normal funeral service cannot be
held.
Fact:
Funeral
arrangements are not delayed by organ and/or tissue donation. If an unusual set
of circumstances occurs and a slight delay is necessary, permission is sought
from the family first. Additionally, since the body is not disfigured, a
traditional, even open casket service is possible.
Myth:
The donor's family has to pay for the recovery of organs.
Fact:
There is
never a charge to the family of the donor for organ recovery. All associated
costs are paid by the organ procurement organization.
Religious Views
AME &
AME Zion
Organ and tissue donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity by
these denominations. They encourage all members to support donation as a way of
helping others.
Amish
will consent to transplantation if they know that it is for the health and
welfare of the recipient. They would be reluctant to donate their organs if the
outcome was known to be questionable; however, nothing in the Amish
understanding of the Bible forbids them from using modern medical services.
Baptists
Organ and tissue
donation is advocated as an act of charity. In 1988, the Southern Baptist
Convention passed a resolution supporting donation as a way to alleviate
suffering and have compassion for the needs of others.
Buddhists
believe that organ and tissue donation is a matter of individual conscience.
Catholics
view organ donation as an act of charity, fraternal love and self sacrifice.
Transplants are ethically and morally acceptable to the Vatican.
The
Church of Christ Scientist
takes no specific position on transplants or organ donation as distinct from
other medical or surgical procedures. Church members usually rely on spiritual
rather than medical means of healing. They are free to choose the form of
medical treatment they desire, including organ transplantation. The decision of
organ donation is left to the individual.
Hindus
are not prohibited by religious law from donating, it is considered an
individual decision.
Jehovah's Witnesses
do not encourage organ donation, but believe it is a matter for individual
conscience according to the Watch Tower and Tract Society, the legal corporation
for the religion. The group does not oppose donating or receiving organs,
however, all organs and tissue must be completely drained of blood before
transplantation.
Judaism
teaches that saving a human life takes precedence over maintaining the sanctity
of the human body.
Latter-Day Saints (Mormons)
are not prohibited by religious law from donating their organs or receiving
transplants, according to church leaders. The decision is a personal one.
Mennonites
have no prohibition against organ donation and transplantation in the Mennonite
faith. Church officials state such decisions are individual ones.
The
Moslem Religious Council
initially rejected organ donation by followers of Islam in 1983, but it has
since reversed its position provided that donors consent in writing in advance.
The organs and tissues of Moslem donors must be transplanted immediately and not
be stored in organ banks.
Protestantism
also encourages and endorses organ donation. Protestants respect the
individual's conscience and a person's right to make decisions regarding his or
her own body.
Quakers
do not oppose organ donation and transplantation. The decision, they say, is an
individual one.
Seventh-Day Adventists
officials have stated organ donation and transplantation to be acceptable
practices for members. The decision is an individual one.
Information
provided by the American Council on Transplantation.
FAQ’s
Who can become
a donor?
You should
always consider yourself a potential organ and tissue donor. Your medical
condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissues can be
donated.
How do I become
a donor?
You can
designate your decision to donate by signing and carrying an organ donor card or
by indicating your wish on your driver's license. You may also document the
gifts you wish to donate in your will. Share your donation decision with your
loved ones.
How do I
discuss organ and tissue donation with my family?
Many
people are uncomfortable talking about death. Explain to your loved ones how
your decision to donate at the time of your death will offer hope to others
whose lives can be saved or enhanced through transplantation.
Why should
minorities be particularly concerned about donation?
A growing
number of minorities are awaiting transplants throughout the United States.
Certain diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, liver and pancreas are prevalent in
minority communities. Many of these diseases can be treated through
transplantation.
Successful
transplantation often is enhanced by the matching of organs between members of
the same ethnic and racial group.
Can I sell my
organs?
The buying
and selling of organs and tissues is illegal, as part of The National Organ
Transplant Act (Public Law 98-507).
Can I be an
organ and tissue donor and also donate my whole body to medical science?
No. You
can either donate organs and tissues OR donate your body to medical science. If
you are a resident within the Gift of Life service region of the eastern
half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware and you wish to donate
your entire body, you should contact the Humanity Gifts Registry at
215-922-4440.
What organs and
tissues can I donate?
Organs
include the heart, kidney, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. Tissues
include eyes, skin, bone, heart valves, tendons, veins and blood vessels.
Can I donate organs
to a friend or loved one awaiting a transplant?
National
organ allocation guidelines allow families of donors to designate recipients,
usually family members or friends. Directed or designated donation, as it is
commonly called, is an option.
However, successful
designated donations are so rare that the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS),
the organization that oversees transplants in the United States does not track
them. Of the 839 transplants performed in the Gift of Life service region
during 2000, fewer than ten involved directed donations.
Living donation is
also an option. If you are interested in donating an organ to a friend or loved
one awaiting a transplant, please visit an
area transplant center for evaluation.
Usually blood type and weight of both the donor and potential recipient play an
important role in determining if the organ will be a match for both directed and
living donation.
Will my
decision to become an organ and tissue donor affect the quality of my medical
care?
No. Organ
and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have
been exhausted and death has been declared. The doctors working to save your
life are entirely separate from the medical team involved in recovering organs
and tissues.
Will donation
change the appearance of my body?
No.
Donation neither disfigures the body nor interferes with funeral arrangements.
Does it cost
anything to donate organ and tissues?
No.
Donation costs nothing to the donor's family or estate.
Is there an age limit
for donating organs?
No set age
limit exists for organ donation. At the time of death, the potential donor's
organs are evaluated to determine their suitability for donation. Therefore,
people of any age wishing to become organ and tissue donors should sign a donor
card, or indicate it on their driver's license and inform their family that they
wish to donate.
What medical
conditions exclude a person from donating organs?
HIV and
actively spreading cancer normally exclude people from donating organs.
Otherwise, the organs are evaluated at the time of death. Therefore, those with
other medical conditions who wish to donate should complete a donor card and
share their decision with their family.
Does my
religion approve of donation?
All of the
major
religions in this country approve of organ and tissue donation and consider
it a gift - an act of charity. If you have questions, contact your religious
advisor.
What will
happen to my donated organs and tissues?
A national
system ensures the fair distribution of organs in the United States. The
patients who will receive your organs and tissues will be identified based upon
such factors as blood type, length of time on the waiting list, severity of
illness and other medical criteria. Factors such as race, gender, age income or
celebrity status are not considered when determining who receives an organ.
Buying and selling organs is against the law.
Thanks to The Sharing
Network and The Gift of Life Donor Program for the information contained on this
page.
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