Organ Donation

 

 

 

For more information on organ donation visit the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network at www.donorrecovery.org.

  

Did you know that someone in this country dies every three hours because of a shortage of donor organs? A new name is added to the national organ registry every 15 minutes and currently there are over 80,000 people waiting nationwide, including over 250 on the waiting list for a donated kidney at the University of Rochester Medical Center. This second chance can be greatly increased if all of us would make our wishes known, to our family members, about organ donation. Signing donor cards and checking donor boxes on our licenses is not enough. We want to share our decision with family members. Death is a sensitive topic and the commitment of organ and tissue donation should be discussed with your family today.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • What is organ and tissue donation?
  • Who receives transplants?
  • How can you become an organ donor?
  • Who can become an organ donor?
  • Why is the donor card so important?
  • What is involved in transplant surgery?
  • Will my medical or nursing care be changed
        because of my decision to be a donor?
  • Who pays for transplantation?
  • Is the donor or the donor’s family responsible for any of
        the costs associated with organ and tissue donation?
  • Do religious groups support organ and tissue donation?
  • Can an organ/tissue donor have an open casket funeral?

    • Click on the graphic below for a printable organ donor card, or register on-line at http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/donor/

     

    Frequently Asked Questions
     About Organ Donation

     What is organ and tissue donation?

    • Organ and tissue donation is a unique opportunity to help save lives. When someone is in a traumatic accident and all efforts have been made to save them, the doctor assesses their condition. If there is no possibility of life (all criteria of brain death are met), the family will be asked to consider donation their loved one’s organs and tissues. Organ and tissue donations may be used for:

      • Transplants – Today’s medical technology enables us to prolong and save the lives of many people through transplantation. Today, it is possible to transplant about 25 different organs and tissues, including:

    Corneas Lung
    Heart Skin
    Liver Pancreas
    Kidneys Bone and cartilage
    Bone marrow

    • Research – People who donate organs and tissues make it possible for others to study the human body and the conditions that affect it. Research is the key to making progress in the fight against kidney disease, disabilities and injuries.

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    Who receives transplants?

    • The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has prepared guidelines to ensure that:

      • All patients have equal access to organs

      • Donors, and patients who need organs, are appropriately matched

      • Patients who have the greatest need will have the highest priority for receiving an organ.

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    How can you become an organ donor?

    • According to the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, anyone who is 18 or older and of sound mind, may become a donor when he or she dies. (Minors may become donors with parent or guardian’s consent.) If you decide to become a donor you should:

      • Indicate whether you want to donate all organs and tissues or only those organs and tissues that you list on the card.
        AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,

      • Tell others about your decision, especially your immediate family, friends and physician. Your donor card will alert physicians to your wishes, but depending on your state’s law, they may still need to ask for a family member’s consent before removing organs or tissues. Letting others know of your wishes ahead of time can help ensure that they are carried out. (It may also help them to decide to become a donor).

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    Who can become an organ donor?

    • Neither age nor medical history should stop you from signing and donor card. The transplant team will decide at the time of the donation whether organs and tissue are useful. And, remember – a body of any age is useful for research. People who are 65 years of age or older may be acceptable donors, particularly of corneas, skin, bone and for total body donation.

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    Why is the donor card so important?

    • Organs and tissues must be removed quickly. There is no time to waste. For example, heart, liver and kidneys must be removed as quickly as possible after brain death occurs

    • Many tissues must be removed within 24 hours.

    • The donor card identifies you immediately. Emergency medical technicians are instantly alerted to your wishes when they see your donor card.

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    What is involved in transplant surgery?

    • Recipients are chosen whose blood type is most like those of the donor.

    • Organs are removed from the donor once consent is given, with the appropriate respect, in a surgical process.

    • Organs are preserved and readied for transportation to transplant surgery sites.

    • Recipients are prepared for surgery as organs are transported to each surgery site. The transplant team usually removes the malfunctioning organ and then replaces it with the donor organ. A carefully monitored program begins.

      ORGANS FROM ONE DONOR CAN SAVE THE LIVES OF 14 PEOPLE!

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    Will my medical or nursing care be changed because of my decision to be a donor?

    • The quality of medical and nursing care will not change regardless of you decision. By law, the same physician or nurse who is responsible for your treatment can not be involved with the donation process.

    • Organ donation is not even considered until all possible efforts for save a patient’s life have failed. The criteria used to determine death are based on strict medical and legal standards. The determination of death must be made by doctors who are not involved in the organ donation or transplant process. Potential organ donors are maintained on life support systems to keep all vital organs healthy until donation can take place.

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    Who pays for transplantation?

    • Medicare covers many of the costs associated with kidney transplants for those who are eligible, regardless of age or financial status. Medicare also covers expenses of heart, heart/lung, lung, liver, cornea and bone marrow transplants for patients who have certain medical conditions. Currently, Medicare does not cover pancreas, bowel or intestinal transplants, but some private insurers may help to pay the costs of these transplants. Medicare will cover the kidney portion of a kidney/pancreas transplant if the patient can pay for the pancreas portion or is covered for this by a private insurer.

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    Is the donor or the donor’s family responsible for any of the costs associated with organ and tissue donation?

    • No. The donor and the donor’s family do not pay for any of the expenses associated with organ and tissue donation.

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    Do religious groups support organ and tissue donation?

    • Religious leaders all of the world favor such donations as expressions of the highest humanitarian ideals. This gift of life is consistent with the principles of most religious and ethical beliefs. If you have questions about your religion’s position concerning organ and tissue donation, consult your religious leader.

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    Can an organ/tissue donor have an open casket funeral?

    • Yes. The donor’s appearance will not be changed and will not interfere with any type of funeral arrangements. The removal of organs is a sterile surgical procedure.

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