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Donate LifeAn Introduction to Organ and Tissue Donation

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Rumor Has It…

• Currently, there are about 90,000 patients awaiting an organ transplant in the United States.

• True. There are more than 90,000 patients in need of an organ right now. Someone is added to the national waiting list every 13 minutes.

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Rumor Has It…

• The more famous and rich you are, the sooner you will receive an organ for transplantation.

• False. The patient that receives a transplant is the one who is most in need and has the best chance of not rejecting the organ.

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Rumor Has It…

• A person can recover from brain death with proper medical treatment.

• False. Brain death is death. No medical treatment can reverse brain death. When all brain activity has ceased, breathing and heart function can no longer continue independently.

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Rumor Has It…

• Most major religions oppose organ and tissue donation.

• False. Leading members of all major religious organizations support organ donation as a virtuous and charitable act

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Rumor Has It…

• A person may declare his or her desire to donate by indicating that decision online at save7lives.org

• True.

save7lives.org is a new simple, secure way for Virginians to sign up as organ and tissue donors.

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Organ and Tissue Donation Works

• The organ and tissue donation process can save or greatly enhance lives

• Transplant survival rates keep increasing

• Recipients go on to live normal, healthy lives

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The Need

• More than 90,000 patients are on the waiting list nationwide

• More than 2,400 of these are Virginians.

• Sadly, about 16 patients die daily and three Virginians die each week waiting for a life-saving organ.

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Organ Transplantation• Heart• Lung (2)• Kidney (2)• Pancreas• Liver

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Brain Death

• The complete and irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain.

• Brain death is death. It is NOT the same as being in a coma.

• Specialized physicians complete complex testing to declare brain death.

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Conditions that Cause Brain Death

• Brain aneurysm• Stroke• Head trauma from motor vehicle accidents• Fall• Gunshot wound• Drug Overdose• Drowning• Poisoning

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Tissue Transplantation

• Blood vessels and heart valves• Bone• Corneas and sclera• Pericardium• Fascia• Cartilage• Skin

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Donation Process

• Accident or illness• Transport• Emergency room• Intensive care unit• Referral and evaluation• Identification of impending brain

death

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Donation Process, cont.

• Brain death

• Donor designation

• Organ placement

• Organ recovery

• Funeral arrangements

• Follow-up

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Matching Donors and Recipients

• Blood type

• Body size

• Length of time on the waiting list

• Severity of illness

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How Can You Help?

• Consider organ and tissue donation and visit SAVE7LIVES.ORG

• Designate your decision.

• Share your decision with your loved ones.

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