Organ Donation
ORGAN DONATION
INTRODUCTION
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor 's medical and social history, of which are suitable for transplantation. Such procedures are termed allotransplantations, to distinguish them from xenotransplantation, the transfer of animal organs into human bodies.The demand for viable organs outweighs the supply. Statistics indicate that approximately every 18 minutes, someone is added to the national waiting list for organ transplant.In 1954, Dr. Joseph E. Murray performed the first successful kidney transplant in Boston. Since then, medical science has concentrated on organ donation as a way of replacing a recipient 's dysfunctional organ with that of a healthy donor organ.
TYPES OF ORGAN DONATION
The organs that can be donated include:
Heart
Patients with severe heart failure who cannot be helped any longer with medication and/or surgery may benefit from a heart transplant.
Liver
Patients with liver failure may benefit from a liver transplant.
Pancreas
Patients with severe diabetes or renal failure may benefit from a pancreas transplant.
Kidney
Patients with kidney failure on dialysis may benefit from a kidney transplant. Most kidney donations are from donors considered brain dead however a small percentage of kidney donations come from living donors. Usually from a family member.
Lungs
Patients whose lungs cannot function properly with medication and/or surgery may benefit from a lung transplant.
Small Bowel (Intestine)
Patients who suffer small bowel damage, either from infection or trauma, may benefit from a small bowel transplant. Damage to the small bowel will hinder a patient from absorbing enough food to survive.
ORGAN DONOR ORGANIZATIONS
Organ Procurement Organizations
INTRODUCTION
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor 's medical and social history, of which are suitable for transplantation. Such procedures are termed allotransplantations, to distinguish them from xenotransplantation, the transfer of animal organs into human bodies.The demand for viable organs outweighs the supply. Statistics indicate that approximately every 18 minutes, someone is added to the national waiting list for organ transplant.In 1954, Dr. Joseph E. Murray performed the first successful kidney transplant in Boston. Since then, medical science has concentrated on organ donation as a way of replacing a recipient 's dysfunctional organ with that of a healthy donor organ.
TYPES OF ORGAN DONATION
The organs that can be donated include:
Heart
Patients with severe heart failure who cannot be helped any longer with medication and/or surgery may benefit from a heart transplant.
Liver
Patients with liver failure may benefit from a liver transplant.
Pancreas
Patients with severe diabetes or renal failure may benefit from a pancreas transplant.
Kidney
Patients with kidney failure on dialysis may benefit from a kidney transplant. Most kidney donations are from donors considered brain dead however a small percentage of kidney donations come from living donors. Usually from a family member.
Lungs
Patients whose lungs cannot function properly with medication and/or surgery may benefit from a lung transplant.
Small Bowel (Intestine)
Patients who suffer small bowel damage, either from infection or trauma, may benefit from a small bowel transplant. Damage to the small bowel will hinder a patient from absorbing enough food to survive.
ORGAN DONOR ORGANIZATIONS
Organ Procurement Organizations
References: 1.http://www.gavelife.org - Organization established to advocate for organ donations from prisoners. 2. http://www.organdonor.gov/. "Organ Donation." First-Gov.com, 2002.Dying & Death in Law & Medicine: a Forensic Primer for Health and Legal Professionals. Berger, Arthur S., Praeger, Arthur S., 1993. 3.The Ethics of Organ Transplants: The Current Debate Caplan, Arthur L., and Daniel H. Coelho, eds., Prometheus Books, 1999. 4. Dying & Death in Law & Medicine: a Forensic Primer for Health and Legal Professionals. Berger, Arthur S., Praeger, Arthur S., 1993.