Step Up For Becoming An Organ Donor

According to statistics, 0.5 million people die every year in India waiting for an organ. Unfortunately, organ donation in India is as low as 0.01%. This is because of a lack of awareness and some negative attitudes towards organ donation. To bridge this gap, everyone should become aware of this and encourage every other and motivate them to register a life-extending organ donation.

What Is Organ Donation?

Organ donation is a legal act with charitable intent to help medically to save or improve the lives of those suffering from terminal organ failures. An organ or tissue will be removed from the body of one person who is an organ donor and will be placed into the body of another person who is the recipient. 

Thus, you help them improve their quality and productivity of life. They can go to their work, start enjoying their life, and love longer, and their happiness will be hard to measure.

The organ donation may be either from a deceased or a living person. Here is some more information on who can donate what. A living donor who is mentally and physically healthy can donate, one kidney, part of the intestine, pancreas, islets of Langerhans, bone, part of the liver, one testis, bone marrow, and blood.

On the other hand, the organs that can be transplanted from a deceased can include, the heart, kidney, pancreas, stomach, hand, skin, blood vessels, lungs, liver, intestine, testis, cornea, and heart valve. Once the organs and tissues are removed, they will prepare your body according to your family’s wishes. They also can prepare it for an open-casket funeral, if the family asks for it.

Donating When You Are Alive

When it comes to organ donation, age is not a bar. But if you are below 18, you will need agreement from your parents or guardian. While most living donations happen within family or close friends, you can choose to donate to some strangers also. 

Before proceeding, the doctors will see whether you are fit for donating and they make sure that you won’t suffer any negative effects, either mentally or physically, after donation. 

Keep in mind that any surgery has got its risks. Though major complication or risk is rare, you will need some insurance coverage and there may be a delay in your return to work.

Benefits Of Donating Organs After Death

In India, more than a million people are suffering because of organ failures. Unfortunately, 3500 transplants are happening a year. At least 15 people die every day due to organ failure and a new person is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes. 

For people who are at the end of their life because of some organ failure, receiving an organ will be a life-changing event. Though for the donor and their family, it is not an easy decision, they can take consolation that their family member has helped save another life or improved dozens of lives and it helps a great way to deal with their grieving process. 

It is a noble act of giving life to the needy. By donating you help them enhance their opportunities.

Is It Legal?

It is indeed a legal procedure and is governed by a transplant regulatory body and special acts laid down by authorities. Any organization that conducts organ transplanting must be registered by the government and should abide by the rules and regulations. 

The Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre maintains a list of people who are waiting for receiving organs and allots them the organs accordingly. 

How To Register As An Organ Donor?

Once you decided to become a donor, just visit any government site and fill up the pledge form. Or you can easily get it done by visiting rebirthtrust.org

They will register with the National Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO). They will send you a card that shows your noble intention of donating. You will have to keep this card always with you.

More importantly, you should let your family know about your intention. This is because, in India, even if you are a registered organ donor, it is your next kin who will decide whether to donate your organs or not upon death. Without their concern, nothing will happen. So, better inform them before themselves to fulfil your desires. 

You can also create awareness among your family, friends, office, or wherever you can and help the people in need. 

– Rajan Mathew

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