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How
do I become a donor? |
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You can become a donor in
three steps:
- Request that a heart be placed
on your license at the DMV.
- Sign and carry a donor
card.
- Express your wishes to your family.
The most important thing you can do is to discuss
organ donation with your family.
Because if you don’t have a signed donor
card, the decision of your organ and tissue
donation will be made by your legal next-of-kin
at the time of death.
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What
organs and tissues can be donated and how are the
used?
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Organs that can be donated
include the heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys,
and small intestines. Organs are used to save
lives by replacing diseased organs with healthy
ones. Tissues that can be donated include skin,
bone, corneas, heart valves, and veins. skin grafts
are used for burn victims. Bone, tendons and ligaments
can be used in reconstructive surgeries; corneas
are transplanted to give sight; heart valves are
used in valve replacement surgery, common in children,
and leg veins can be used in heart bypass surgery.
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Is
there any cost to my family if I am an organ/tissue
donor? |
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No. All costs associated with
donation are paid by the organ procurement organization.
Your family is only responsible for hospital charges
before the death declaration and for funeral expenses.
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Will signing
a donor card affect the quality of medical care
I receive? |
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Absolutely
not. Medical care is always based on what is necessary
to save a patient’s life. Patients can be considered
for donation only after they are declared dead. |
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Is there
any age limit for donation? |
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No.
Potential donors are evaluated on an individual
basis, regardless of age.
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Is it true
that only rich people get transplants? |
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No.
Factors such as race, gender, age, income, or celebrity
status are never considered when determining who
receives an organ. The organ allocation and distribution
system is based on many factors including blood
type, length of time on waiting list, geographical
location, severity of illness and other medical
criteria. There is NO way to buy a place on the
waiting list. |
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Are there
any racial barriers to donation and matching organs? |
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No.
Race is not a barrier, nor is it a criterion for
organ placement. A computer database matches organ
donors with potential recipients according to medical
suitability. However, patients waiting for kidney
transplants are more likely to have an antigen match
with a donor of the same race. |
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If I am
in good health can I sell my organs for money? |
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No! It is against the law
to buy or sell organs in the United States.
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Can I be
a donor if I have or have had cancer? |
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People
who have or have had some forms of cancer can be
eye donors. They could be an organ and tissue donor
if they have been cancer-free for at least five
years.
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Can my organs
be used if I die at home? |
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Unfortunately,
no. Organs must have a continuous blood and oxygen
supply to be suitable for transplantation. Only
individuals who have been determined brain dead,
usually in a hospital intensive care unit, have
the potential to be organ donors. However, tissue
donation can occur when someone dies at home.
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What does
“brain death” mean? |
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Brain
death is the irreversible and complete cessation
of all brain and brain stem function. It means there
is no blood flow through the brain or brain stem
and the patient has stopped responding to outside
stimuli. It is considered death and allows a death
certificate to be signed. Brain death is not the
same as being in a coma, since coma patients still
have brain function and respond to stimuli. |
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If I am
a donor, will there be a delay in funeral services? |
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In
most cases, no. Usually, the procedure can be completed
and the body released to the funeral home the next
day. |
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Can I still
have an open casket funeral? |
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Yes.
Organ and tissue recoveries are conducted in the
operating room under the direction of qualified
surgical personnel. An incision is made, closed,
and dressed; therefore, the body’s appearance
is not changed by the donation process. Also, the
identity of the donor family is kept confidential
so no one will know that donation took place. |
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Can I still
be an organ donor and also donate my body to science? |
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If
you are an organ or tissue donor, a medical school
will not accept your remains for teaching purposes.
However, if you are an eye donor, you may donate
your body to a medical school. Some research institutions
will accept your body for research after organ and
tissue donation. |
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How many
people are waiting for organs in our country? |
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Right
now, more than 90,000 Americans are waiting for
life-saving organ transplants. For the most current
waiting list number, visit www.unos.org. |
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How many
people are waiting for transplants in NC? |
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Nearly
3,000 North Carolinians need life-saving organ transplants. |
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How many
people can be helped by tissue donation? |
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More
than 50 people can be helped through one tissue
donor. |
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How many
lives can be saved by one organ donor? |
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One
organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people. |
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When was
the first human heart transplant? |
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In
1967, a South African heart surgeon named Christian
Barnard performed the first human heart transplant. |
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When was
the successful living donor transplant done? |
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In
1954, a kidney was transplanted form a healthy 23-year-old
identical twin to his brother, who had chronic kidney
failure. |
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