Organ donation is when a person allows an organ of theirs to be removed, legally, either by consent while the donor is alive or after death with the assent of the next of kin.Donation may be for research, or, to be transplanted into another person.Common transplantations include: eyes, kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas, intestines, lungs, bones, bone marrow, skin, and corneas.
According to a survey In India every year about:
500,000 people die because of non-availability of organs, 200,000 people die due to liver disease, and 50,000 people die because of heart disease. Moreover, 150,000 people await a kidney transplant but only 5,000 get among them.
The organ donor can play a big role in saving others’ life. The organ of the donor can be transplanted to the patient who needs it urgently.
Facts about Organ Donation
Anybody can be an organ donor irrespective of their age, caste, religion, community etc
There is no defined age for donating organs. The decision to donate organs is based on strict medical criteria, not age.
Tissues such as cornea, heart valves, skin, and bone can be donated in case of natural death but vital organs such as heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, and pancreas can be donated only in the case of ‘brain death’.
Organs such as the heart, pancreas, liver, kidneys and lungs can be transplanted to those recipients whose organs are failing because it allows many recipients to return to a normal lifestyle.
Anyone younger than age 18 needs to have the agreement of a parent or guardian to be a donor.
Having a serious condition like actively spreading cancer, HIV, diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease can prevent you from donating as a living donor.
We should take pledge to donate our body and organs after death and just utilising this body during our life time. It is our moral duty to keep ourself healthy so that this body is useful for the medical students for studies.
Organ Donation 24X 7 Toll free Helpline No. 1800-11-4770
Government of India Portal for Organ Donation - http://www.notto.gov.in/