Grayce P. Storey
"Organ donation is a serious endeavor. There are more than 70,000 men, women, and children currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant".1 Unfortunately one third of these patients will die before an organ becomes available. Statistically that is about twelve a day, therefore can the lack of education permit this to continue? more people need to be informed of these statistics. We are told that this is a national health crisis and we (you and me) are the cure. Ethically if we have in our possession a cure for a life threatening disease , is it wrong to with hold it? Is it wrong to share? We always teach our little ones to share with other siblings. I encourage all to discuss organ donations with family and loved ones. Now is the time to have those discussions because during the time of grief makes it more difficult. "A recent Gallop poll found that 93% of respondents would consent to donation if the knew their loved one's wishes"2
The organization that is responsible for procurement activity is the, Organ Procurement Organization (OPO). Their job description includes discussing donation with the family. They evaluate the potential donor. Once the decision has been made to donate it becomes the OP,s responsibility to arrange for the surgical removal of designated organ(s). These surgeons and nurses are a special team. Once the organs have been removed they then must preserve the organs and distribute them according to organ sharing policies. There are sixty organ procurement organizations in the United States. In Connecticut, The procurement organization is at the North East Organ Procurement Organization and Tissue Bank, Hartford Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital.
Organ donation should serve as a wake-up call to the African American communities. "Health officials agree that an increase in organ donation among minorities can lead to earlier and more successful transplants, especially for African Americans."3 This is based on the success rate when a donor and recipient are of the same ethnic background are matched. The posting of the United Network of Organ Sharing show that "nearly half of the 60,000 on the waiting list are African American, Hispanic, Asian Americans, and other minorities, but 25% of donors",4 each year come from these groups
In June of 1999, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) , approved the splitting of livers. This process will increase the number of livers and decrease mortality especially in pediatric patients. This process involves dividing a transplantable liver into two segments. The smaller segment usually is used in a child and the remainder is used for adults. This process has been proven successful.
In response to many of the student concerns "make sure I am really dead before you try anything,"...all of the medical care possible will be given to an individual before they are pronounced dead. The quality of medical care will not be altered because the patient has decided to be a donor. Not one but two licensed physicians must declare the patient legally brain dead before organ recovery begins. I reiterate, the recovery is done by a different group of physicians and nurses from those that normally wait on the patient. Once the recovery is completed, if the family is desirous of an open casket funeral it is perfectly all right. The body will not show any outward sign of donations. This was also a concern of my students.
Listing of Organs and Tissues that can be Donated
• Heart
• Kidney
• Pancreas
• Eyes
• Lungs
• Liver
• Intestines
• Veins
• Skin
• Bone
• Heart Valves
• Fascia Tissue
• Bone Marrow
Who can be A Donor?
• The criterion for becoming a donor are
• Medical stability
• No contagious diseases
• No minority diseases
• Good physical condition
If religion is an issue that hinders you from becoming a donor, the good news is that most religious organizations encourage or support organ donations. Some look at it as: an act of charity, helping mankind is an act of brotherly love, and saving a life is a priority if possible is what is expected. There are some religions which say it is up to the individual's conscience. Lastly, there is that very few which says no! Even fewer believe that all body parts should be left in tact because after death the soul still retains the physical shape. So, in answer to the question who can be a donor ...anyone provided they meet the required criterion.
If you contemplating on becoming an organ or tissue donor, is your family must be made aware of you decision. A suggested time to make your family aware of your wishes is when they are all together, such as meal time. If the individual is under eighteen parental or guardian consent is necessary. Although the individual maybe under eighteen there is no age limit on who can be a donor
By becoming a donor it is possible that you can help as many as one hundred fifty people. Pancreastwo people, heartone person, corneatwo people, bonemany people, intestinemany people, bone marrowmany people etc. I'm sure you get the picture.
There are many ways to promote becoming a donor. I encourage you to come with some idea of your own. To get you started here are a few suggestions:
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• Talk it up with your friends
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• At school get permission to bring in a resource person
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(Presently at Yale New Haven Hospital, the contact person is N'Zinga Shani, she is the Education Coordinator for the New England Bank at Yale. The clinical person is Cheryl Edwards and the donation coordinator is Sheryl Duland)
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• Talk up donors in different church organizations
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• Involve the family, ask parents to talk about becoming a donor on their jobs
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• Your local chapter is an excellent resource center. They too may come up with more ideas to spread the importance of becoming a donor
