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What is organ donation?
An organ transplant is the moving of an organ from one body to another, or from a donor site on the patient's body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. Most organ and tissue donations occur after the donor has died. But some organs and tissues can be donated while the donor is alive.
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Which hospital should I contact if I wish to donate my organs after death?
You do not need to contact a hospital. Just carry a donor card and tell your family that you wish to donate your organs after death.
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What is brain death?
Brain death is death that is accompanied by a total and irreversible loss of all functions of the brain. In brain death although the brain is dead the heart may continue to beat and breathing can be maintained by a machine called a respirator in an intensive care unit. If the blood circulation to the heart, liver, lungs and other organs is maintained thus providing them with oxygen and nutrition they do not deteriorate and can be transplanted to a person dying from organ failure.
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Who can be an organ donor?
There are no age limits on who can be an organ donor. Newborns as well as senior citizens have been organ donors. If you are younger than 18 years, you must have a parent's or guardian's consent. If you are 18 years or older, you can show you want to be an organ and tissue donor by signing a donor card. If you want to be an organ donor, make sure your family knows your wishes. Your family may be asked to sign a consent form in order for your donation to occur.
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Who cannot be an organ donor?
Each potential donor is evaluated for the presence of conditions or illnesses that might put the transplant recipients at risk. The only, absolute, contraindications to donation are the presence of HIV infection and cancer. All other medical conditions are evaluated individually at the time of donation. Many people with chronic medical problems have safely donated vital organs and tissue.
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Which organs and tissues can I donate?
Organs - heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and small intestine.
Tissues - cornea, skin, bone, bone marrow, heart valves, blood vessels, and tendons. -
Who pays for the cost of organ donation?
The transplant recipient is responsible for all costs involved in organ procurement. The donor's family does not pay any of the cost. Indeed they will be getting eternal gratitude for giving a dying person life in spite of their own personal tragedy.
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Does organ donation disfigure the body?
No. Donation does not disfigure the body.
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What will happen to my donated organs and tissues?
When someone dies, the local organ procurement organisation, tissue bank or eye bank matches those donor's organs, tissues and eyes with people waiting for transplants. Patients who receive your organs will be identified based upon many factors, including blood type, severity of illness and other medical criteria. Factors, such as race, gender, age and income are not considered when determining who receives a transplant.
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Does becoming a donor mean a doctor will let me die?
Absolutely not! Medical personnel must follow very strict guidelines before a donor can be pronounced brain dead. There are stringent tests which have to be carried out by 4 doctors(the treating physician, a neurologist, the hospitals medical director and a government medical representative) twice and six hours apart before a person can be declared brain dead.
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Why is organ donation important?
Thousands of people die or suffer needlessly each year due to a lack of organ and tissue donors. A transplant is often the only hope.A single donor can save the lives of up to eight people and enhance the lives of up to 50 others.
