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Organ Donation Essay

Decent Essays

The Benefits of Becoming an Organ Donor, and How to Do So
In 2003, when Jason Ray turned eighteen and got his adult license, he took it upon himself to also register as an organ donor. Three years later, the red heart on Jason Ray’s drivers license caused the lives of sixty individuals, along with the lives of their families, to be improved and saved (Araton). Ray’s parents, Charlotte and Emmitt, created an organization in honor of their son to encourage others to become organ donors as well. As a result of their organization, the number of organ donors has increased by 50,000 individuals (Ray). According to the Cleveland Clinic, organ donation is “the process of surgically removing an organ or tissue from one person and placing it into another.” While one can become a living donor, this paper will primarily focus on donating one's organs and tissues following death. Organs and tissues that can be donated include the liver, kidney, pancreas, heart, lungs, skin, bone marrow, and connective tissue, along with several others (“Organ Donation”). Organ donation presents the opportunity for individuals to gain a second take on life. To become an organ donor, one needs to have met the set qualifications and discussed the decision with family and close friends, as well as weighed the benefits and risks.
The benefits of becoming an organ donor are immense and have the possibility to last a lifetime, yet, there are still risks involved with becoming an organ donor. There are obvious

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