Happy National Donate Life Month!
If you had the power to save eight lives, would you?
April is National Donate Life Month, a time for Life Connection of Ohio, the non-profit organization that serves families and saves lives through organ donation, to spread the word that everyone has the power to donate life. One person has the incredible ability to save eight lives through organ donation and heal 125 more through tissue donation!
Although the community is largely supportive of organ donation, there are some misconceptions that sometimes prevent people from registering as donors. Here are the facts:
Will doctors try to save my life if I am a registered donor?
Yes. Every effort will be made to save someone’s life, regardless of their choice to donate. The medical staff dedicated to saving lives at hospitals is separate from those who coordinate donation. It is only after all life-saving efforts have been exhausted that donation becomes an option.
Can I still have a viewing if I donate?
Yes. Organ recovery surgery is a very careful, respectful procedure, and if an open-casket funeral was possible before donation, it should be possible afterward.
Is my religion against donation?
Probably not. All major religions in the United States either encourage donation, viewing it as a generous last act of charity, or leave the decision up to the individual.
Can rich or famous people buy their way to the top of the waiting list?
No. The national transplant waiting list exists because everyone must wait on it, regardless of wealth or celebrity status. The only way to move to the top of the waiting list is to be extremely sick.
Can I sell my organs?
No. The National Organ Transplant Act makes buying and selling organs illegal in the United States.
Will there be a cost to my family if I donate?
No. All costs associated with donation are the responsibility of the organ and/or tissue recovery organization. A donor family is only responsible for hospital charges until death is declared and for funeral expenses.
Am I too old or too sick to donate?
Not necessarily. The oldest organ donor was 95, and people with histories of diabetes, cancer, and other diseases have still been able to give the gift of life. It is important to register as a donor regardless of age or health conditions, as medical professionals will determine whether someone’s organs and tissues are healthy enough to transplant after death.
Does my sexual orientation exclude me from registering as a donor?
No. Organ donation does not discriminate. Who you love does not affect your ability to donate life.
Can organs and tissues be transplanted between races and genders?
Yes. Race and gender are not considered in the matching process.
What is the matching process?
The donor and recipient must be medically compatible, so blood type, body size, and age are considered. Urgency of need, length of time on the waiting list, and geographic location are also factors, but race, gender, and wealth are not.
What can be donated?
Organs that can be donated after death include the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, and small intestine. Tissues that can be donated after death include bone, corneas, heart valves, ligaments, skin, tendons, and veins.
How do I register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor?
• Online at lifeconnection. org—All you need to say “yes” to saving lives is a valid Ohio driver’s license or state identification card.
• At the BMV—Say “yes” when obtaining or renewing your driver’s license or state identification card.
• By mail—Say “yes” through an Ohio Donor Registry enrollment form. Brochures can be found at any BMV or at Life Connection of Ohio’s office. The reality is that nearly 110,000 people are waiting for life-saving organ transplants in the United States, including more than 3,000 Ohioans. A new name is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes, and 20 people die every day waiting for an organ transplant. The good news: Everyone has the power to say “yes” to saving eight lives through organ donation and healing 125 more through tissue donation.
To learn more about organ, eye, and tissue donation or to register as a donor, visit lifeconnection.org.
Kara Steele is Director of Community Services for Life Connection of Ohio.
