ORGAN/TISSUE DONATION
The following section was taken from the Virginia Department of Education’s Driver Education Curriculum Guide, 2001, Module One, pp13-14
When you apply for your driver’s license, learner’s permit or photo ID card, you will be asked if you wish to become an organ donor. If you decide to become a donor, your choice will be noted on your driver’s license or photo ID card. If you wish to change your decision later, you may have the change made free of charge at your next renewal. If you wish to become an organ/tissue donor, you must be at least 18 years of age. If you are under age 18, you must obtain your parent’s or legal guardian’s written consent.
Background Information
Transplantation, in the strictest sense, is the act of taking a single cell from one individual and placing it in another. While organ transplants are easily recognizable, there are other more basic transplantations. A blood transfusion is a form of transplantation. Dental procedures where tissue is taken from the roof of the mouth and placed on various gum sites are examples of auto-transplantation. Transplantation is not as mysterious or “high tech” as some would think.
Today transplantation of cells, tissues, and organs are proven, non-experimental therapies. Lame people walk as a result of bone transplants, and many others are fortunate enough to be alive due to organ transplants. Tissue donation allows the blind to see, prevents the amputation of limbs and allows a heart to function properly. Annually, the number of possible tissue donors greatly exceeds potential organ donors. Each tissue donor can positively affect more than 200 people.
Unfortunately, everyone who is in need of a life-saving organ does not receive one. Each year nearly 12,000 Americans die from causes that would allow them to become organ donors. For many families the two main obstacles to open discussion about donation are:
People must face their own mortality.
People are not knowledgeable about donation. Many myths and misconceptions continue to be perpetuated due to a lack of knowledge. The overriding truth is that organ donation can save or greatly enhance lives.
Virginia is one of a few states to have implemented a computerized donor registry. The Department of Motor Vehicles started this registry in May 1994 to implement the state law. When an individual obtains a driver’s license, he/she is asked about organ donation. This information can be retrieved to help the family make a decision about donation if the person is a potential donor.
Although support for organ donation appears to be strong, a serious organ shortage persists with more than 60,000 people on the national waiting list for an organ transplant. One major reason for the lack of donors is that most Americans do not realize that family consent, not a signed donor card, is required for donation. Organ procurement organizations always seek permission from the next-of-kin, even if a signed donor card exists. While 93% of those surveyed indicate that they would honor the wishes of a family member if they knew of his or her desire to donate, only 47% would be likely to donate a family member’s organs without a previous discussion. This disparity highlights the importance of family communication regarding organ and tissue donation. Annually, only 30 – 40% of an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 deaths meeting criteria for organ donation actually become donors.
For more information about organ and tissue donation call the Virginia Transplant Council at 1-800-52-DONOR.
The Gift of Life
Over the last two decades, scientific, surgical and medical advancements have made it possible to transplant numerous human organs and tissues with great success. Currently, medical technology allows the transplantation of skin, cornea, bone, bone marrow, blood, kidney, heart, lung, pancreas, liver, small bowel and heart valve. Transplantation of vital human organs, one of the most complex medical endeavors, is no longer considered an experimental procedure.
The need for cadaveric organs and tissues for transplantation continues to exceed donations in all areas of the country. In the United States someone is added to the waiting list for an organ transplant every 16 minutes. Unfortunately, 10 – 11 people on the waiting list die daily awaiting life-saving transplant. More than 100 Virginia residents die while waiting for organ transplants annually.
Matching Donor and Recipient
Organs and tissues from one donor can help save or enhance the lives of hundreds of people. The recipients of donated organs are determined by medical need, blood type and, in some cases, tissue typing. According to the guidelines of the American Medical Association, the patient who receives a transplant is the one who is most in need and the one with the best chance of not rejecting the organ. The present waiting list for transplantation is composed of males and females, newborn to 70 years of age, all blood types and all races. Specific organs tend to be needed by certain population groups. For example, men comprise 80% of those waiting for a heart, while women comprise 60% of those waiting for heart-lung transplants and African-Americans comprise 35% of the national kidney waiting list. Due to distinctive characteristics inherent to individual population groups all people must donate. In particular, the unique cell make-up of African-Americans requires donors from the same race to donate to reduce the number of African-Americans awaiting kidney transplants. A special computerized national network, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), based in Richmond, Virginia, coordinates organ distribution. Regional organ procurement agencies and recovery centers utilize UNOS to match donated organs and potential recipients.
There is no cost to the donor, the donor’s family, or the estate for donation.
Neither the donor nor his family may receive any payment for the donation – it is a gift, and as such, no cost or payment to the family is involved.