Why to Donate

Why should I volunteer to donate an organ

Organ and tissue transplantation is a modern medical miracle, through which hundreds of lives are saved each year. For organ donors and their families, it is a chance to give life, a chance to help others at a time when it may seem that so much has been taken away. For recipients it is a new life. Modern medicine and improved surgical techniques have increased survival rates for recipients, but the need for organs and tissues remains greater than ever. That's why so many people have to wait for a transplant operation --- and why some people die before a suitable organ can be found. You can make a difference. By deciding to become a donor, you are choosing to someday offer someone else the promise of a brighter future.
Organs that can be harvested for transplant from a person who has died include:

• Lungs
• Heart
• Kidneys
• Intestines
• Pancreas
• Liver

Organ donation is similar to, but should not be confused with [[Interview With George Kramer, Tissue Procurement Specialist|tissue donation]], which is the harvesting of:

• Bones and bone marrow
• Corneas
• Veins
• Skin
• Heart valves
• Tendons

How Organ Donation and Transplantation Works

When a person dies or is declared brain dead, it is the hospital's responsibility to find out if that individual is an organ donor. If he or she is, their organs will be kept viable via ventilator or other mechanisms until they can be harvested. Most of the individuals whose organs are donated will have died from an external trauma or head injury. Those with serious illnesses such as cancer usually do not make good candidates. Many factors are taken into consideration in determining what organs are viable including how long the person has been deceased as well the individual's physical health before he or she died. In many cases, procurement specialists and doctors have roughly 24 hours to remove and transplant the organs.

The Benefits of Organ Donating

Depending on your beliefs, the benefits of organ donating can outweigh the cons:

• Helps grieving families: When a loved one dies, most families will want to do everything they can to help the grieving process. Knowing that the corneas or heart of the person who just died will help another see or even live can be very comforting. They receive some peace knowing that something positive has come out of the death.
• New lease on life: For those receiving the organs, these transplants can mean a second chance at life. For some, it means being able to see, while for others, it can mean actually being able to live.
• Better quality of life: Individuals who are dependent on kidney dialysis and receive a kidney transplant can return to living a regular lifestyle without machines.
• Cost effective: Some organ transplants can be less expensive in the long run than continuing medical care, specifically in the case of kidney transplants.
• Social responsibility: Many individuals feel it is their social responsibility to help others survive or live normal lives.

Can I be a donor

Anyone, regardless of age or race, can donate organs and tissues. The age and health of a donor are not as important as the condition of the donor's organs and tissues themselves. A transplant team assesses the suitability of each donated organ or tissue and matches them with people waiting for an organ or tissue transplant. A Brain dead Cadaver can donate a whole liver or a living related healthy person could donate part of the liver. Again, choosing to become an organ or tissue donor is a very personal decision, but it is very important to share your feelings with your family, or anyone else who might be involved with handling your affairs at the time of death. Then, once you've shared your wishes with your family, sign an organ donor card , as a written record of your decision.

Is it legal in India

In Western countries these procedure are done routinely for the last three decades successfully.In India, it became legal by a law known as The Organ Transplantation Act 1994

If I change my mind

Just discard your organ donor card. And always make sure your family is aware of your wishes.

Will my life be threatened in any way

No. Everything will be done to save your life. The doctor looking after you cannot be a member of the transplant team or be associated with the proposed recipient in any way.

paired-exchange" transplant Technique

A "paired-exchange" transplant is a technique of matching for incompatible donor/patient pairs where a donor will donate their kidney to another recipient that also has an incompatible donor.

Example: donor 1 may be willing to donate a kidney to patient 1 who needs a kidney transplant but cannot since there is not a biological match, also donor 2 may be willing to donate a kidney to patient 2 but cannot since there is not a biological match. In the paired exchange, donor 1 can donate to patient2 and donor2 can donate to patient1 if both match. Typically the surgeries are scheduled simultaneously with the donors traveling to the recipient’s hospital. Some transplant centers have a paired exchange program.