Essay The Growing Need for Organ Donors

A continuing problem exists in trying to close the gap between the supply and demand of procured organs in the United States. An increase in the amount of transplant operations performed has risen significantly over time. As a result, a new name is added to the national waiting list every 16 minutes (Duan, Gibbons, & Meltzer, 2000). It is estimated that about 100,000 individuals are on the national transplant waiting list at all times (Munson, 2012). Something needs to be done before these numbers get completely out of control. Despite the introduction of Gift of Life and many other educational efforts, the United

Since that time donation has been the only way to increase the current supply of transplantable organs. Some people are uncomfortable with the idea of organ donation due to misconceptions and lack of knowledge. In fact, organ transplant recipient Dr. Phil H. Berry, Jr. points out that there would be less deaths of people waiting for transplants, “if Americans would overcome their reluctance to become organ donors” (29). Organ donation whether it is upon your death or giving a part of a liver or one kidney while you are alive is a charitable gesture towards your fellow man and could give meaning to the end of your life. The mere act of donating could bring more peace to your loved ones at the time of your death and as a result, you could give

According to United Network for Organ Sharing (2010) organ donations and transplantation are the removal of organs and tissues from one person and placed into another person’s body. The need for organ transplantation usually occurs when the recipient organ has failed (UNOS, 2010). Organ donation can save the lives of many individuals who are on the waiting list for an organ donation. Becoming an organ donor can be a difficult decision. Many people have the false beliefs about being an organ donor. An example would be if organ donor is on their driver’s license and a person is in a life-threatening accident everything will not be done to save their life. There is an increase need for organ donors and unfortunately the need for organ

The procedure that most hospitals use to determine to use people as organ donors is from someone that is declared brain dead (D'Alessandro). Most hospitals do not actually use organs from people that have died from sudden cardiac death because the organs are not a vital as from a patient that has been declared brain dead ( (D'Alessandro). A patient is considered brain dead when their brain function has quit working permanently and the term brain dead is the legal term that is used for someone that is dead (Congressman Jim McDermott). Families are educated when being told that their loved one is brain dead and that the machines the hear and see are they only thing that is working, that it is not actually their loved one breathing that they hear and see (Nancy Valko).The mention of organ donation usually does not even occur until it has been determined by the medical team that the patient is brain dead and the discussion with the family to end life support has been done with the family by the physician ( (D'Alessandro).

The medical industry had been achieving more in the stage of medical advancements, though they are still in the early phase. Artificial organs have been one of those achievements. Although they have achieved such, artificial organs are not perfect. Most doctors as well as patients would prefer to replace a dying organ with a compatible human organ, rather than with an artificial or animal organ. Yet due to a there being less organs donated than recipients, artificial and animal organs are becoming more common in transplants. Most of this issue is because people are unaware of how organ donation works, the organs that can be donated, how many people are in need, and the advancements that have happened in the field. Organ donation saves hundreds of lives every year, but many lives are recklessly lost due to a shortage of organ donors.

The donor is normally an unfortunate individual who has suffered an incurable brain injury, called "brain death". Very often these are patients who have had major issues towards the head, for example, in a motorbike accident. The victim's vital organs, other than the brain, are working fine with the help of medications and other life support device. A team of physicians, nurses, and technicians goes to the hospital of the donor to remove donated organs once brain death of the donor has been confirmed. The removed organs are transported in cold temperatures to keep them alive until they can be inserted. For the heart, this is roughly less than six hours. So, the organs are usually flown by airplane, helicopter or the quickest way possible to the receiver's hospital.

Organ Transplants are an extensive and complicated process, but the results are life changing to the person receiving and even donating their organs. There are two types of donors, living and deceased. Deceased donation is when a patient in the hospital dies, is declared brain dead, and it either in the donor registry or is appointed to be a donor by next of kin. Deceased donors must have, “irreversible loss of all functions of the brain, including the brain stem” (Consent 1) in order for patients to be considered as donors. Patients in comas will never be permitted to donate organs because their brains are still functioning. Deceased donors must be placed on a ventilator in order to keep blood and oxygen flowing through their organs, which

Generally the public is normally only exposed to the miraculous side of organ transplantation. Rarely is the public ever exposed to the darker side of organ transplantation, the actual surgical act of removing organs from a deceased person. In her 2003 Wired essay “Stripped for Parts,” Jennifer Kahn discusses the difficult nature of the entire donation process as she herself has observes the procedure from cadaver to extraction. The author adds to her observation with information on the technicality of donor maintenance such as staving off cellular decay and overcoming the falling blood pressure of the dead body. She also discusses some of the limitations of organ transplantation, such as the narrow window of time allotted to remove organs

Main Point 1: Organ donation is such a simple and selfless action one takes to save the lives of others. Now much of what we will we discuss, also applies to living donation, but we will focus on deceased donation. The number of patients waiting for organs far exceeds the number of people who have registered to become organ donors. According to UNOS, every 10 minutes, a new name is added to the national transplant list. 20 people die everyday from the lack of available organs. Just one deceased person, can save up to 8 lives, 9 lives if you split the liver. Now if you donate tissues, you can improve the lives of up to 50 people! The need for organ donation is growing every minute. You can see why we need to register.

In the United States alone, there are about 120,000 people on the waiting list to receive a potentially lifesaving organ transplant (American). This number is so high, that many people will never receive the necessary organ in time. One simple way to help ease this number is by becoming an organ donor, which there are numerous ways to this. You can be a live donor and donate organs such as a kidney, liver, and bone marrow or you can also donate tissues, for example skin (American). The other option is register to be a donor when you die.

What is an organ donor? Organ donation is the process of surgically removing an organ or tissue from one person (the organ donor) and placing it into another person (the recipient). Many people become recipients for organ donation due to the fact that their organs have either failed or become damaged by an illness or injury. Organs, as well as tissues, can be donated and people of all ages can become donors.

When contemplating to donate, many different organs can be donated. These are only some of the possible organs that can be donated. A heart valve, intestines, bones, and tendons (“What Organs Can Be”). Some other organs are the kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, small bowel, and the pancreas (“Frequently Asked Questions”). And finally bone marrow, and connective tissues can be donated (“Organ Donation and Transplantation”). When a person is living and they want to donate, they can donate one kidney, one lung, a portion of their liver, a pancreas, and part of their intestine (“What Can be Donated”). When someone passes away and is a deceased donor, they can donate every thing listed above, and not just a portion of one (“What Can Be Donated”).

Every time we hear the two words 'organ donation', we immediately let it slip our mind- as we simply don’t think it’s important enough. As this comes into play for many topics, we never truly recognise what others are put through on a daily basis. With 1,700 individuals on the Australian waiting list, we believe this number is very minor and can be benefitted easily. Truth is, while the numbers rise, many will have an unfortunate death having to wait up to 4 years or more at a time waiting for suitable organ transplantation. The current ‘Opt-In’ Organ Donation system in Australia is simply not providing enough donors. We feel unpleasant emotion related to the threat of danger and pain deriving from these words ‘organ donation’, as, to put

In the field of organ transplantation, the role of altruism is significant to the welfare of the society. Organ donation is founded on the principles of altruism that is an action taken by a person to benefit others without regard to the consequences on him or herself. Life-saving organ transplantation relies upon a supply of donated organs. However, not all potential organ donations are considered

If somebody wanted to donate something while they were alive, instead of waiting till they die, there are also some organs that can be donated while they are living. While living people can donate their kidney, part of their pancreas, part of a lung, part of a liver, part of the intestine, bone marrow, and blood (Organ and Tissue Donation). Most people who donate organs or tissues while they are alive donate the organ or tissue to a family member or friend, but there are some cases where they donate it to someone they don’t know. Some of the organs can regenerate themselves and some can’t. If somebody donates and organ while they are alive that doesn’t regenerate itself, they are still able to survive without it. For example somebody can donate a whole kidney and be okay, because they have another one and