Answers:
What organs and tissues can be transplanted?
All the vital organs in the body can be transplanted which includes: heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and the small intestine. Tissues include the cornea or eye, bone, skin, cartilage, ligaments, veins and heart valves.
Who can be an organ and/or tissue donor?
Everyone should consider himself or herself a potential organ and tissue donor. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissues can be donated. Organs are recovered from individuals who are "brain dead", meaning their brain and brainstem have died. They have usually suffered a severe trauma or blow to the head, such as an aneurysm or a gunshot wound. The individual is in an intensive care unit at a hospital and every measure possible is made to save their life. A series of tests are performed by a neurospecialist to determine brain death. Brain death is death! Organs can only be recovered from individuals who are brain dead. Organ donors can also donate tissue. Individuals whose heart stops beating have died of a cardiac death. These individuals cannot donate organs for transplant. They are candidates for tissue donation. The only disease that completely eliminates you from being an organ or tissue donor is HIV or AIDS.
How are organs and tissues recovered?
At the time of death, organ and tissue donation is offered to the next-of-kin. Once consent has been obtained, the donation process is set into motion. Tissues are recovered up to 24 hours after death in a hospital operating room by trained technicians. The tissues are recovered and prosthetic devices are put in place to maintain the form of the body. The body is carefully reconstructed and returned to the hospital morgue whereupon the funeral home that the family has selected picks up the body. The tissues are stored in freezers until all of the quality assurance tests come back verifying that no diseases are present. Once all quality assurance measures are approved, the tissue is then processed into grafts for distribution to clinicians.
Organ donation is a more difficult process because organs have to be matched with individuals waiting on the national waiting list. Once the organs have been placed, the organs are surgically removed in a hospital operating room. Surgeons and their assistants recover each organ in a specific order. The surgeons return to the transplant center and transplant the organ into the awaiting recipient. Due to specific time limits, some organs, such as the kidneys, can be properly packaged and sent on a commercial airline to their destination, while other organs must be transported more urgently. For example, the heart can only be outside the body for 4 hours before being transplanted, but kidneys can be outside the body for up to 48 hours before being transplanted. Every test that is available is performed to ensure the safety of the organs and tissues.
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Will my decision to donate interfere with my own health care?
No! Health care institutions are there to help you. It would make no sense for them to "kill you off"' for your organs and tissues. The donor program only comes into play once death has been declared. There is no conflict of interest between the individuals declaring death and the donor program. Medical personnel must follow strict guidelines before they can pronounce death and remove organs and tissues.
Do I need to mention organ and tissue donation in my will?
No. Your will may be read too late to make donation possible.
Who pays for transplants?
The transplant recipient's health insurance or federal funds may cover the cost of the transplant. Ultimately, the transplant recipient is responsible for the transplant. The donor's family does not pay any of the cost.
Can we be paid for donating organs?
No. Organ donation is a gift. The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 prohibits the buying and selling of human organs.
What is UNOS?
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit organization that was awarded the contract by the Department of Health and Human Services to operate the OPTN and to develop a system to assure equal access for all p.atients needing organs for transplantation.The OPTN is responsible for operating a 24-hour a day waiting list and an organ matching system; coordinating the logistics of matching the organs, collecting, analyzing and publishing transplant data; and educating health professionals about the donation process.
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How does the UNOS System work?
All patients accepted onto a transplant program's waiting list for transplantation are registered with UNOS. UNOS maintains a centralized computer network linking all organ procurement organizations and transplant centers. This computer network is accessibl.e 24-hours per day, seven days per week, with organ placement specialists always available to answer calls.
When a donor organ becomes available, the transplant center or organ procurement organization will access the UNOS computer, which generates a list of patients ranked according to the UNOS policies. Ranking is based upon objective, medical and scientific criteria.
Factors affecting ranking may include tissue match, blood type, length of time on the waiting list and immune status. In the case of heart, heart-lung, liver, lung or pancreas, distance is also considered.
After receiving a printout of the waiting list, the transplant coordinator contacts the transplant team of surgeons and physicians for selection of a patient using the ranking system. Once the patient is selected, donor and recipient testing can begin and surgery is scheduled.
UNOS is charged with developing and operating a national organ allocation system that is fair and based on sound scientific findings and best medical practices.
What do religious groups think about organ and tissue donation?
Most major religions in the U.S. support organ and tissue donation. If you have concerns about your religion's position, talk with a member of the clergy. For more information on this see our page on Religious Issues.
Who will receive my donated organs?
Potential recipients are identified using the UNOS national computer system. The computer generates a list of patients ranked according to strict medical criteria, urgency of need and time waiting. Donor and recipient identity is confidential, although some basic information is shared.
How do I become a donor?
Indicate your wish when renewing your driver’s license, or contact the ARORA office. Most importantly, share your decision with family members so they can assist recovery staff.
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What is the Donor Registry?
The donor registry is a confidential, computerized registry that simply allows people to sign-up their wish to become an organ and tissue donor upon death. ARORA maintains the registry and can access information anytime.
Can I change my mind once I register as an organ donor?
Yes. Just call ARORA or go to any state revenue office to request a donor data change form to have you name added or deleted from the Donor Registry, then tell your family of your decision.
Will I need a donor card?
No. If "donor" is indicated on the license, then the name is automatically listed in the Registry database.
Isn't a drivers license a legal document for donation?
Yes, it is, but most procurement agencies will always follow the final decision of the next of kin.
What about legislation in Arkansas concerning my drivers license and donation?
The 1993 Arkansas Legislature passed a law that simply states that when applying for a license you will be asked if you want to be an organ donor. In 1997 a law was passed that established the Donor Registry and placed that information into a database that is accessable, by ARORA, 24 hours a day.
Does my family have to pay for any of the donation procedures?
No. When a person if declared dea, the billing stops. All procedures that are performed after that are billed to ARORA and ultimately recovered by the federal government from the transplant centers.
If I become an organ donor, who is responsible for my funeral?
Funerals are not affected by organ donation. Whatever wishes have been made by you or your family are granted without delay, but are still the responsibility of your estate.
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Does organ donation disfigure the body? Would it be possible to have an open casket?
Organ donation does not disfigure the body. Procurement is a sterile surgical procedure done with the upmost respect that allows normal viewing of the body.
How is it decided which patient receives the organs?
Many factors are involved in this process. First of all, doctors decide the medical status level of a patient and that information is kept on a national list of potential recipients. Status levels can change as a patient's health changes. Other factors in the selection process include blood type, tissue type, body size and weight.
Are there federal laws concerning organ donation?
Yes. The federal "Required Request" Act of 1986 requires all hospitals, upon death of a potential donor, to offer the familly the option of organ donation.
How can I learn more about organ donation and transplantation?
Call ARORA at 1-800-727-6726 and ask for the Education Department. ARORA also provides free presentations to civic groups, churches, schools, businesses and other organizations. Also, check out our Donation Information section of our site, as well as our links to other interesting and informative web sites.
How can I volunteer to help?
Call our Education Department at 1-800-727-6726 or email us for volunteer opportunities.
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