More Sympathy GiftsLegacy of Life: Organ Donation
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal. - Albert Pine, 1851
How do you want to be remembered after you're gone? Although you may be reluctant to acknowledge your own mortality, try to give it some thought. Chances are, your answer will be something like: "By what I did for others."
Most people are, after all, kind and generous. They want to – and do – help others in all sorts of ways. Volunteering time and talent is a way of life for many Americans, and donating money and goods to those in need is in our nature. But what if you could turn all that goodwill into something more precious than any of these? What if you had the opportunity, literally, to save the life of another human being?
A Gift of Life
The answer, of course, is: you do. Thanks to the wonders of technology and modern medicine, organ transplants save the lives of more than 28,000 people each year. Yet the demand for transplant surgery continues to outpace the supply of transplantable vital organs, and as of April 2008, more than 99,000 Americans are listed as waiting for life-saving organ transplants. Many of them will die waiting.
The healthy organs of one deceased person can save the lives of up to eight people. Even if one or more of the donor's organs are diseased, other organs may be healthy enough for transplant. And tissue donations--skin, blood vessels, muscles, bone marrow, bone and corneas, for example--can improve the quality of life for many, many more.
The Truth About Organ Donation
So why don't more people donate organs when they die? The answer often lies in misinformation and unfounded fears. Following are some of the myths and realities surrounding organ donation.
Myth: Medical staff may not do everything they can to save a patient's life in an emergency if they know the patient is an organ donor.
Reality: In an emergency, all of a medical staff's knowledge, skill and energy are focused on saving the life of the patient. Organ donation isn't considered until after a patient has died and the family has been consulted.
Myth: All people must do to become a donor is to mention their wishes in their will or carry a donor card. No point in disturbing family members with talk about death.
Reality: Time is a crucial factor in organ donation. For a transplant to be successful, the donor organs must be harvested within 6 to 72 hours after death; by the time the will is read, the opportunity will have passed. Even carrying a donor card is no guarantee–if no one knows it's there, it may not be discovered until it's too late. By frankly discussing the subject with family members before you die, you'll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing your wishes are understood and will be honored. And by sharing your views and feelings on the subject, you may inspire your loved ones to become donors, too.
Myth: Only young and healthy people who die from traumatic injuries can be organ donors.
Reality: Organs and tissues from elderly donors have been successfully transplanted, and even people who are ill at the time of death may have one or more healthy organs that are suitable for transplant. Very few illnesses–positive HIV status, active cancer, or systemic infection are some examples–are likely to disqualify a potential donor. It all depends on the condition of the organs at the time of death, and only a doctor can make the final determination.
Myth: Many religious traditions forbid organ donation.
Reality: In fact, most religions honor organ donation as a profound and selfless act of charity.
When You Decide
If you are 18 years of age or older, you can make the decision to become an organ donor. Even children can become donors with parental consent. In order to become an organ donor, there are only three things you must do:
- Go to http://www.organdonor.gov to download and sign a donor card. Then carry it with you at all times.
- Tell your doctor of your decision, and ask to have it noted in your medical record. Depending on your circumstances, you may also want to share your decision with your clergy or legal advisor.
- Have that important discussion with your family. You'll relieve them of the burden of making difficult decisions at a difficult time, and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you'll continue to help others, even in death.
