Ten Facts You Should Know
About
Organ and Tissue Transplantation and Donation.
By signing a uniform donor card, an individual indicates
his/her wish to be a donor. However, at the time of death, the person's next-of-kin will still be asked to sign a consent form for
donation. It is important for people who wish to be organ and tissue donors to
discuss this with their families at a rational time so that their wish will be
carried out at the time of death.
Nationwide,
more than 36,000 patients are waiting for an organ transplant. Less
than half of these patients will be transplanted; about 2,000 new patients are
added to the waiting list each month.
At any one time, there are from 200 to 300 patients
on Iowa's waiting lists.
About one-third of the patients who are on
the list for heart, liver and lung transplants die while waiting because of the
lack of available organs.
Almost a quarter of all the individuals waiting for
liver transplants are 10 years old or younger.
All deceased less than 75 years of age can donate
organs and tissue. All charges related to donation are paid for by the
organ/tissue procurement program(s). This does not include hospital expenses
before the donation or funeral expenses.
Studies show that a vast majority of donor families
find consolation in their decision to donate.
There is no alteration of the body relative to the
surgical procedures in removing the tissue(s)/organ(s). An open casket funeral
service may still occur depending upon the family's choice.
The actual number of transplants performed annually
has increased for all types of organs and tissues; however, many more people
could benefit from the life-savingprocedures if sufficient organs and tissue
were available.
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