Stories and False Views on Organ and Tissue Donation
Considering organ donation could be awkward and cause us to ignore this crucial problem. To help you address some of your issues, we have compiled some of the typical myths and misunderstandings about organ donation below.
MYTH: It would be wiser to let my family make decisions at that point.
FACT: You have to tell your family whether you wish to donate organs or tissues.
Families typically stop making donations since they just have no idea what their loved one desired.
Of families that already know their loved one is willing to give, 73% answer “yes.” This rises to 90% should the deceased be a registered donor.
Only 44% of families agree to donate when the family is ignorant of the choice made by their loved one.
MYTH: I decided not to talk about it with my family.
FACT: Your family has to know. They will be expected to validate your choice.
Families are very important in the donation procedure since they are expected to validate the choice of their loved one about the gift.
Even if you have registered your decision, the family will be involved in every stage of the donation process and requested to furnish important medical information.
Should you wish to be a donor, you must register your choice on the Organ Donor Register.
Above all, you should talk about your choice with your close ones. Get your family ready so they might enjoy participating in the process.
MYTH: Should I be an organ, tissue, or eye donor, I will be deprived of an open casket viewing or funeral.
FACT: The patient receives respectful and caring treatment all through the healing process. An open casket viewing or funeral is still possible even if your loved ones will not be able to know you were a donor.
MYTH: Organ and tissue donation renders the body ugly.
FACT: Organ donation does not distort the body; it is rather specialised surgery.
Highly competent surgical and health professional teams handle organ and tissue retrieval.
Like any other operation, the surgical incision made during the process will be closed and covered; it will not be obvious under the person’s clothing.
The family may still have an open casket viewing if requested; the donor’s body is always handled with dignity and respect.
MYTH: Should I be a registered donor, doctors will not do as much effort to save my life.
FACT: Saving your life comes first for the doctor everywhere.
Medical staff, including physicians and nurses, works very hard to save people’s life; their top concern is thus. The hospital’s medical personnel will always do all within their ability to save your life. Performing organ and tissue recoveries as well as transplants, they are a separate team from the staff.
Only when the person has died or death is unavoidable is organ and tissue donation taken into account; at this point the Organ Donor Register is verified and the family is requested to verify the choice made by their loved one.
One organ and tissue donor can change the life of countless others.
MYTH: Organ and tissue donation runs against my faith.
FACT: As a kind deed and gift, all main religions endorse organ and tissue donation.
All of the main religions—Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism—support organ and tissue donation.
The organ and tissue donation process can meet cultural and religious end of life needs.
MYTH: My way of life makes me not fit for donating.
FACT: Those who smoke, drink, or follow a poor diet are nevertheless able to give. Saving lives does not depend on your state of perfect health.
Some of your organs and tissues might be fit for donation, there is every possibility. Count yourself in rather than discounting yourself!
The place and manner a person dies as well as the state of their organs and tissues define the deciding elements.
The crucial thing is whether you are ready to one day register and talk about your choice, then help to save lives.
MYTH: I am too unwell to be a donor; I have several medical conditions.
FACT: Based on medical background, every possible donor is assessed for fit for donation. Those with diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease, many other illnesses, can yet possibly donate.
MYTH: I am not old enough to donate organs or tissues.
FACT: People over eighty have started to donate organs and tissues; age is not a barrier.
By means of organ and tissue donation, people in their 70s and 80s have preserved the life of others.
Although your medical history and age will be taken into account, you shouldn’t presume you are too elderly or underfit.
Every possible donor is evaluated on a personal basis. You could be able to give organs or tissues; there are every possibilities.
MYTH: Should a loved one donate an organ, tissue, or eye, donor families are taxed.
FACT: Should their loved one donate an organ, tissue, or eye, the donor’s family pays no expenses.
MYTH: One can recover from brain death.
FACT: Actually, brain death results from a terrible, permanent damage to the brain.
Sometimes when there is such an accident, the brain swells and blood flow to the brain is cut off, resulting in the death of brain tissue notwithstanding all medical treatments.
Clinically, brain death is the diagnosis provided by a doctor educated in doing a neurological exam. Unlike someone in a coma who might still show some signs of life, if brain death is confirmed that individual will not wake up.
Medications and mechanical equipment like the ventilator help someone who is brain dead preserve body functioning; this may only be temporary, few hours or days rather than permanent.
MYTH: Rich and well-known individuals can obtain an organ much before others.
FACT: Although their story usually makes headlines, this is not true—even if it would seem that the rich and famous could get an organ faster than others. Maintaining the national organ waiting lists, the United Network of Organ Sharing bases them exclusively on medical standards. Having more money or celebrity status never helps someone rank first on a list.