Despite continuing efforts at public education, misconceptions and inaccuracies about donation persist. Learn these facts to help you better understand organ, eye and tissue donation:
1. Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history.
2. All major religions in the United States support organ, eye and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others.
3. If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ, eye and tissue donation can only be considered after you are deceased.
4. When you are on the waiting list for an organ, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important medical information, not your financial status or celebrity status.
5. An open casket funeral is possible for organ, eye and tissue donors.
Through the entire donation process the body is treated with care, respect and dignity.
6. There is no cost to the donor or their family for organ or tissue donation.
7. Signing a donor card and a driver's license with an "organ donor" designation may not satisfy your state's requirements to become a donor. Be certain to take the necessary steps to be a donor and ensure that your family understands your wishes.
Although there have been advances in medical technology and donation, the demand for organ, eye and tissue donation still vastly exceeds the number of donors. For more information, read the summary below provided by UNOS.
Almost 100,000 men, women and children currently need lifesaving organ transplants.
Every 12 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list.
An average of 18 people dies each day from the lack of available organs for transplant.
In 2005, there were 7,593 deceased organ donors and 6,895 living organ donors resulting in 28,108 organ transplants.
In 2005, 44,000 grafts were made available for transplant by eye banks within the United States.
Approximately 1,000,000 tissue transplants are performed annually.
According to research, 98% of all adults have heard about organ donation and 86% have heard of tissue donation.
90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.
From the above, we can see that theres no greater gift than the gift of life, and through the donation of vital organs and tissues, each one of us has the power to save lives when no other hope is available.
Despite continuing advances in medicine and technology, the need for organs and tissue is vastly greater than the number available for transplantation.
Transplantation gives hope to thousands of people with organ failure and provides many others with active and renewed lives. This is a fact.
Increasing our awareness of the facts regarding organ donation can make a big difference and show increased benefits world-wide.
Use the following information to organize your thoughts on organ donation.
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Hal is the author of several critically acclaimed eBooks specifically written to help people deal with end of life issues. His eBooks include topics such as: cremation, writing and delivering a eulogy, eco-friendly green funerals, funeral planning, organ donation, and buying and selling cemetery plots. To find out more about his CemeterySpot family of free services and resources, to learn more about his books, and to get a free gift, please visit: www.cemeteryspot.com.