India has the lowest organ donation rate in the world. Hence, there has to be more awareness around the need to donate, says DR ABHIDEEP CHAUDHARY
In India, due to several socio-cultural reasons, organ donation is not encouraged at any level. Hence, organ donation rate in the country is the lowest in the world. The perpetual problem of shortage of organs has led to a growing demand-supply gap. We need to be more aware and extend full support to organ donation programme. It is high time to overcome the challenge.
Every organ donated gives new life to those who need it badly to survive. There are eight organs that can be donated — kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas and the small bowel. Tissues of your body can be donated to improve the life of a needy person. In tissues, you can donate your skin, corneas, bone tissue including tendons and cartilage, heart valves and blood vessels.
Major facts about organ donation
Anyone can donate
Anyone — young and old — people can donate their organs to save the life of a needy person. People ageing 18 and above can resister to become an organ donor. People who are ill or on medication can also donate their organ. An illness or medication would render a particular organ unsuitable for donation there will often still be others that could be good candidates for a transplant.
Organ donation is about giving new life which means after death you can donate your organ. It is never too late to donate there is always a chance that you can donate an organ or tissue, whatever your age even after death.
But always remember that any organ should be transplanted within six to 12 hours after removal from the donor's body. The sooner any organ is transplanted, the greater the chances of functioning of that organ. The liver should be transplanted within 6 hours of evacuation and the kidney within 12 hours. The eyes should be applied to the other person within 3 days.
Which part of body can be donated?
Eyes/corneas, heart and heart valves, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, intestines, femoral & saphenous veins, bone and tendons in tissues you can donate skin, corneas, bone tissue including tendons and cartilage, heart valves and blood vessels., Mostly organs and tissues donation occurs after the death of donor, If person has registered him/herself as an organ donor. As deceased donor that can donate two kidney, liver, two lungs, heart, pancreas, and intestines.
Clarity to be an organ donor or not
If patient has died in the hospital, doctor can consult relatives to decide for donating the organ of dead body. For organ donation doctor will give registration form and there is box of ‘yes’ or ‘no’ this registration form makes everything clearer for all concerned to become a donor or not.
Truth be told
Myth 1: Organ donation cannot be done in any disease.
Fact: It is not like this, you only need to meet certain medical criteria. If you fulfill those medical conditions then you can donate organs. Sometimes some organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other organs can be donated.
Myth 2: Organ donation makes the body unformed.
Fact: Often people feel that the body spoils by donating organs. But this is not true as it is like a routine surgery and the organs are removed in a similar way. The process of removing the limbs is done with utmost dignity and respect and the scars of the surgery are well covered.
Myth 3: People of old age cannot donate organs
Fact: Contrary to popular belief, elderly people can also be good donors. Age is only number one! Yes, you are never too old to donate, nor is anyone's age tested. If you meet medical conditions, you can donate organs.
Myth 4: You or your family can charge for organ donation
Fact: Organ donation is a great work. You or your family members cannot charge for organ donation. Even the cost to remove the organ is in most cases borne by the transplant recipient.
Know the difference
There is difference between organ donation and tissues donation. Organ donation is when an organ heart, lung, kidney, liver and pancreas is removed from one person and transplanted into another person. Tissue donation is when tissues in the body like eyes, bone, skin, tendons, Heart tissue are removed from one person and transplanted into another person.
Most organ donation happens when a person dies, but some organs and tissue can be donated even when the person is alive. Kidney is the most common organ donated by living people, because the person donating can live a normal life with only one kidney. Anyway, the kidney which is transplanted from a living person, its working capacity is more than that of a kidney, which is taken from a dead body. Most of the kidney transplant cases in India are by alive donor.
The living person can also donate parts of the lung and liver. Apart from this, all other organs including eyes are donated only after death. In case of normal death at home, only eyes can be donated. No other organs can be taken. Any other organ can be taken when a person has brain death and is taken on a ventilator or life support system.
Tissues donation can be used in surgical applications to repairing musculoskeletal structures such as teeth, skin, and spinal components. Also, it can benefit the patients in r life-threatening medical situations which includes saving patients with severe burns, torn ligaments or tendons to heal and regain strength, restoring hope and mobility of men and women who have been injured.
People should be encouraged to become a voluntary donor in our society. One should pledge for organ donation during his/her lifetime, because we have the power to bring back life and smile to someone's face through our donation when we are gone.
The writer is Director & HOD, HPB Surgery & Liver Transplantation, BLK Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi