About 5 lakh people die annually due to non-availability of organs, which could have been easily accessed. Of these, liver transplant is most needed. Of the 1,00,000 people that need a liver, only 1000 are able to get one. Other organs have staggering numbers as well. Compared to the need, only 0.34 people donate organs per million in India. The situation across the world is only marginally better. The number is as low as 36 persons per million of population donate organs in Spain, 35 in Croatia and 27.02 donated in the United States.
We all know the benefits of organ donation and how it is a noble cause, offering a fresh lease of life to someone else in need. But the vigour of everyday life leaves signing up for it at the back of one’s mind and action is not on the priority list. More so, many people forget to tell their next of kin about their intention to offer organs after passing, and healthy organs that could have saved someone’s life are left inaccessible to those in need. Unless one goes through a dire circumstance or needs an organ for a loved one, the benefits of donation just remain academic. There are also religious reasons why families discourage offering a full body of the deceased for medical studies, quoting lack of closure and easy passing of the soul after cremation. In this blog, we demystify organ donation for you, and giving you easy steps on how to get an organ donation card.
Who can become an organ donor?
Both living and deceased (cadavers) can be organ donors, depending on what they can contribute. People who are not suffering from major ailments can often give a part of the liver, tissues and marrow to save lives, dependent on accurate matching by a medical expert. In the case of the deceased, there is limited time to harvest the organs before they become redundant. This can include eyes, heart, liver and 22 other major organs and tissue that could be made of use to more than 9 people. In some cases full bodies can be offered for study and research. In the case of the deceased, organs can be donated only when the person is declared brain dead, which means damage to the brain is irreversible. Only a panel of qualified doctors can declare this, and the organs can be harvested within 4-6 hours of passing.
Facts about organ donation
- Any adult (18 years and above) can be an organ donor irrespective of his/her age, caste, religion or community. The only critical condition is good health.
- There is no defined age for organ donation. The decision to donate organs is based on medical compatibility, and not age. In the case of minors, the decision is that of legal guardians.
- 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 a person being ‘brain dead.’
- One cannot be a living donor in the case of a serious condition like cancer, HIV, diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease.
Recipient-Donor Connection
A person in need for an organ transplant needs to be registered in the waiting list administered by National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) in India. Different hospitals are affiliated to the organisation and place their requests accordingly. Once the organs are received, a speedy search, medical compatibility and priority list decides who gets the organs.
Registering for an organ donation
This is a voluntary process, where an adult can decide whether to be an organ donor during his/her lifetime or after death. Many hospitals and medical foundations take the onus of registering an individual, offering a valid organ donor card and sending regular communication to inform needs. The organ donor card is not a legal document and the final consent still lies with the individual and next of kin, depending on when the organs need to be donated.
Organ donation NGOs in India
Once you have filled the easy prescribed form via any of the below links, wait for the verification of information, post which, you will receive your organ donor card.
http://www.organindia.org
https://www.nhp.gov.in
http://www.mohanfoundation.org/
https://www.notto.gov.in/
Final Steps
Communication of your organ donation card is extremely critical else all the effort will be of no use to anyone. It is recommended to tell your next of kin and close family and friends about your organ donor card and always keep it handy in your wallet so that it can be accessed in the case of an emergency.