Organ transplants can save or greatly enhance the lives of other
people. But this relies on donors and their families agreeing to
donate their organs. There are currently around 6,500 people
on the UK transplant waiting list.
What can you donate?
- Kidneys
- Heart
- Liver
- Lungs
- Pancreas
- Small bowel
- Cornea
- Tissue and bone
Types of donation
Brain stem death - This is where a person no longer has activity
in their brain stem due to a severe brain injury. They have
permanently lost the potential for consciousness and the capacity
to breathe. This may happen even when a ventilator is keeping the
person's heart beating and oxygen is circulated through their
blood.
Circulatory death - Is the irreversible loss of function
of the heart and lungs after a cardiac arrest from which the
patient cannot or should not be resuscitated. It can also be the
planned withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from a patient
within the Intensive Care Unit or the Emergency
Department.
Living donation - Whilst you are still alive you can choose to
donate a kidney, a small section of your liver, discarded bone from
a hip or knee replacement and also your amniotic membrane
(placenta).
Consent
We will only use organs from a donor with their consent or with
their family's consent after they die. It is important that you
talk to your family so that they are aware of your
wishes.
Myth busters
Doctors might not do their best to save my life if they
know I am on the NHS Organ Donor Register
It is only when the treating medical team in the hospital and
the family have accepted that no further treatment can help, and it
is not in the patient's best interest, that 'end of life' care
choices are considered. Organ donation as an 'end of life' care
choice will then be discussed with a family.
Donation will leave my body disfigured and I won't be
able to have an open-casket funeral
The donor is treated with the utmost care and respect during the
removal of organs and/or tissue for donation. Specialist healthcare
professionals will make sure you are treated with dignity and
respect. We carefully close and cover the surgical incision after
donation as in any other surgical procedure. The arrangements for a
viewing of a loved one's body after donation are the same as after
a death where donation doesn't take place.
I'm too old for my organs to be
donated
We encourage everyone who supports organ donation, regardless of
their age, to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and to talk
to their family about their wishes.
You only need organs from adults
None of us want to contemplate the death of a loved one, least
of all a child. Sadly some children do die and the decision to
donate has provided some comfort to whole families, knowing their
child went on to help others.
I don't need to tell my family my organ donation
decision. It's written in my will
By the time your will is read, it will be too late for you to
become a donor. If you want to become an organ donor, the best way
to ensure this is by registering on the NHS Organ Donor Register
and asking your family to support your decision to
donate.
If I've registered as an organ donor my family won't
have a say about me donating my organs
The law says that the decision about whether or not to donate
your organs rests first and foremost with you. While your family
has no legal right to override your decision, in practice their
support is always sought. Specialist nurses will be available to
provide information and support, answering any questions or
concerns families may have. This will allow families to make an
informed decision about donation and support your wishes. That is
why it's very important to discuss your decision with your family
and make them aware you want to be an organ donor.
Sign up to the Organ Donation Register here or find out more information here.
Source: NHS Blood and Transplant.
