The Importance of Organ Donation: Facts and Myths

The Importance of Organ Donation: Facts and Myths
Date posted:  16-04-2025

Do you want to experience the joy of being the reason someone gets a second chance at life? Organ donation is a powerful gift, offering hope and a new beginning to those suffering from organ failure. Yet, so many myths and misconceptions keep people away from registering. Let's dive deeper to separate facts from fiction to raise awareness and save lives.

What is organ donation??

Organ donation is the process of giving organs or tissues from a living or deceased person to someone in need of a transplant. It aims to improve health and save lives by providing healthy organs to individuals suffering from organ failure.

What are the types of Organ donation?

  1. Living Donation

  2. Deceased Donation

  3. Tissue donation

  4. Pediatric donation

What are the types of Death?

  • Brain Death (Neurological Death)

  • Cardiac Death (the Heart has stopped beating and confirms Death)

What is Cadaveric Organ Donation??

Organ donation after death? refers to Cadaveric organ donation. Here, the organs are harvested after the person has been declared either brain dead or after cardiac death.

Organ donation

  • Heart

  • Lungs

  • Kidneys

  • Liver

  • Pancreas

  • Intestines

Tissue donation

  • Corneas

  • Skin

  • Bone

  • Tendons

  • Heart valves

  • Ligaments

  • Veins

What are the organs you can donate while alive??

  • Kidney

  • Portion of Liver

  • Lung or part of lung

  • Skin

Common Myths and Facts About Organ Donation

Here are some of the organ and tissue donation facts? and myths:

Myth 1: The organ donation process is not regulated; it is a painful and complicated procedure that is not safe.

Fact: Organ donation is a highly regulated and safe procedure overseen by medical professionals to ensure ethical practices and minimize risks. The process is carefully managed and involves rigorous medical assessments, thus ensuring the safety of both the donor and recipient. Proper care and pain relief can manage the pain experienced by living donors. 

Myth 2: If I agree to donate my organs, my doctors won't try as hard to save me, and my organs will be removed immediately to save someone else.

Fact: When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors prioritize saving your life, not someone else's. The medical emergency team responsible for your care is separate from the transplant team. 

Myth 3: Brain death is the same as being in a coma.

Fact: Brain Death is a complete and irreversible loss of all brain activity, including in the brainstem. A brain-dead person has zero potential for recovery.

Coma is a state of deep unconsciousness where the brain is still functioning but at a reduced level. A person in a coma may recover. Therefore, organ donation is not possible in a coma unless the individual progresses to brain death.

Myth 4: Buying and selling of organs is legal in India.

Fact: In India, the buying and selling of organs is illegal. The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), passed in 1994, prohibits organ trade. Organ donation is encouraged but strictly regulated to prevent illegal practices and ensure ethical, voluntary donations.

Myth 5: I'm a senior citizen; who would accept my organs?

Fact: Many senior citizens have successfully donated organs. Medical professionals assess each case individually. As long as the organs are healthy, they can be used to save lives, regardless of the donor's age.

Myth 6: My child is too young to be an organ donor

Fact: In India, the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA) allows organ donation by minors with parental consent. If the organs of a deceased child are suitable for donation, medical professionals evaluate the case to ensure the organs are viable and suitable for transplantation.

Myth 7: My religion opposes organ donation.

Fact: Organ donation is seen as a selfless and ethical act in many religious communities. Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism support organ donation and have no specific prohibition against it. They view it as a compassionate way to save lives.

Myth 8: If the donor has HIV, it will spread through organ donation.

Fact: HIV can be transmitted through organ donation. However, modern medical advancements and screening processes allow organs from HIV-positive donors to be safely matched with HIV-positive recipients under the HOPE Act. This practice has proven to be safe in certain cases, saving lives without spreading the virus to those who are not affected.

Why You Should Register as an Organ Donor?

Organ donation is a simple and selfless act with no immediate action required. Every donor can save multiple lives and can encourage others as well. Talk to your family about your decision to donate, and register with your local organ donation registry.

Believers Hospital, Thiruvalla, is an active member of the Kerala Network for Organ Sharing (KNOS), which manages the organ donation registry in Kerala.

 

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