Understanding Organ Donation - Should I Or Shouldn’t I Give Away My Organs?

Apr 17, 2018

Many of us have watched the medical dramas on television and remember the parts where the hot doctor races against time to save someone with a donated heart or kidney. We may have also heard our loud-mouthed cousin exclaim that the doctors will not try as hard to save you if you have the organ donor tab checked on your identification.

So what will happen? Will the doctors give you half-hearted treatment if you are in an accident and are an organ donor, or will they do everything to save your life? Also, do you have to be deceased to be an organ donor?
 

Separating the Fact from the Fiction

Giving the gift of tomorrow is without a doubt one of the biggest gestures you can make in your life. However, organ donation comes with a stigma- the first being that your life must be over before you are able to give away an organ.

Dr. Bryan Becker is the chief medical officer at DaVita Integrated Kidney Care. He is eager to let everyone know that a living kidney donation offers faster access to transplantation and has also been known to up the rate of survival for long-term kidney transplant patients. He also says that a common myth concerning living donation is that both donors must be related and that the donation procedure is risky. However, one out of every four living donors is not related biologically to the recipient. He is also eager to add that undergoing organ donation is as safe as undergoing any other type of surgical procedure. 
 

Another aspect of being a living donor is the ability to talk to other donors in order to make an informed decision. Becker suggests speaking to your friends and family about the emotional, physical and financial implications that come with being a living donor.
 

Being an organ donor after death also has its own untrue stereotypes. One of the biggest is that only someone who is in great physical condition can donate their organs. This isn’t necessarily true, according to Andi O’Malley, the community relations director of the LifeCenter Organ Donor Network. One example is someone who has active cancer yet can still donate their corneas after passing. The chief medical officer for Organ Sharing, Dr. David Klassen, states that there have been patients in their 90’s who have donated their organs after death. 

It’s also important to note that the next-of-kin will have the right to deny organ donation if there is nothing written down prior by the deceased. It’s crucial to talk to your spouse, family, and friends about your desire to be an organ donor after you die if this is what you want. Don’t be scared to bring it up to them! It’s your body, after all. 
 

Unless you are a writer for a medical drama, organ donation may not be at the top of your list of things to consider. But it is still important to know the truth about this resource and to consider giving a piece of yourself away after you pass. 

What do you think about organ donation? Show your friends and family this article if you found it helpful and let us know your thoughts!