benefits of organ donation essay

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The Power of Organ Donation to Save Lives Through Transplantation

Organ and tissue donation is more important than many of us realize—for society and for the individuals it directly affects. Today, there are nearly 118,000 individuals waiting for an organ transplant to live healthier, more productive lives (Unpublished data, Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network [OPTN], April 2013). For some people with end-stage organ failure, it is truly a matter of life and death. Add to these the thousands more whose lives will be improved through tissue and cornea donation and transplants that can help them move better, see better, and live better.

Donation affects more than the donors and recipients. It also affects the families, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who love and support those in need of transplantation, and who benefit from their renewed life and improved health after transplant. For my part, I have experienced not once, but twice how donation and transplantation affects individuals.

Twenty years ago, my wife, Donna Lee Jones, died in a severe automobile accident. Her death was a shock, and my family did not know what to make of our tragedy. Then we were offered the opportunity to donate her organs and tissues for transplantation. While it did not lessen the pain of her loss, it brought comfort to us knowing that out of our tragedy, some good would come, and others could receive the gift of life. Because of her donation, several people received a new lease on life: a man in Tampa, Florida, received her heart; a teenage boy in Washington, D.C., received a kidney and pancreas; a hospital custodian received her other kidney; a woman in Pennsylvania received her liver; and her corneas went to a young woman in Baltimore, Maryland, and a government worker.

Four years later, my 20-year-old daughter, Vikki Lianne, was struck by a car and died. Losing a spouse was tragic enough, but the pain of losing a child cannot be expressed. Falling back on our previous experience, we decided to donate Vikki's organs and tissues for transplantation. Again, several individuals benefited from her gift: a mother of five children from Upstate New York received her heart; a widow with four children received her lung; a 59-year-old man from Washington, D.C., who was active with a local charity, received her liver; a widower with one daughter received her kidney; a working father received the other kidney; and her corneas went to a 26-year-old man in Florida and a 60-year-old woman in Pennsylvania. And we, her family, took comfort in the idea that Vikki's legacy was one of life and giving.

Organ donation provides a life-giving, life-enhancing opportunity to those who are at the end of the line for hope. And the need for organ donors is growing. When Donna Lee died in 1992, there were 27,000 people on the transplant wait list. When Vikki died just four years later, that number had grown to 47,000 (Unpublished data, OPTN, January 2010). As of April 5, 2013, there were 117,812 people waiting, with hope, for an organ to become available (Unpublished data, OPTN, April 2013).

One way to expand the number of organs available for transplantation is to expand the number of donors, through carefully and safely considering individuals who in the past were not included. The guideline in this special issue of Public Health Reports provides a scientific, evidence-based process to assure a balance between organ safety and availability for each individual on the transplant wait list. As our knowledge and scientific capabilities regarding safety and availability grow and evolve, donors who in the past would not have been considered as donors are now able to provide the gift of life to others.

This guideline will help improve organ transplant outcomes, leading to more individuals being able to live healthier and longer lives. The science and evidence are clear and will improve the safety of organs, balanced with a clear and conscious regard for donors and recipients. It is the human aspect of donation and transplantation—helping people. It is the right thing to do.

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Kenneth Moritsugu is a former Acting Surgeon General of the United States.

This article was supported in part by Health Resources and Services Administration contract #234-2005-370011C. The content of this article is the responsibility of the author alone and does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Importance of Organ Donation Essay (Critical Writing)

Most people see dilemmas when handling matters concerning organ donation and transplantation. In a real sense, this issue can, and still sounds difficult if we don’t try to be realistic. Depending on our different cultural beliefs, many people oppose the idea of organ donation. However, some view organ donation as a heroic decision and socially acceptable activity based on the notion of helping to save a life. Such positive notions and beliefs about organ donation must be advanced to increase the number of those signing up for organ donation programs in Michigan and other states. The government has tried its best to help and boost organ donation through a number of initiatives, and people would be helpful if they considered the importance of organ donation and responded positively. In Michigan, people willing to donate organs can now freely do so by starting to give their names to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry (Department of State, 2008).

Considering the huge number of people in need of different body organs today, and the many that are dying each day due to organ problems, a socially upright member of our society should not consider it a big issue to donate an organ to a recipient who is in danger of dying.I really consider it a life-saving process that everyone should also heed. Data is alarming on the number of organ recipients. According to the UNOS-United Network for Organs Sharing-research, every 16 minutes, a new name is added to the national transplant waiting list. The same source indicated that there were about 53,000 patients waiting for transplantation. That was by 1998. A huge number of Americans totaling 55,000 are awaiting organs recipient. In 1996 almost 1000 people died waiting liver transplantation in America and more than 9,800 are waiting it currently.This means that without having good hearted people willing to donate organs to the needing recipient there is a danger of loosing many people each year as a result of organic problems (Prange, 1998). Currently, Michigan is in dire need of volunteers who wish to save life by rendering their organs for donation.

It’s actually important and very necessary to do anything to make sure that you help to have somebody survive death.According to our different religion backgrounds, we are taught the importance of life and that’s why I consider it important to help those in need of different organ problems, by rendering our parts to help them live. It is time people did away with the negative notions and questions posited against organ donating, and possibly consider it in a different perspective-such as if they were the recipient. When handling such issues like organ donation, many questions may arise in our mind, such as what would happen to our tender bodies after some of our organs are taken out? It’s actually a shock to many, but if we look into our society, many people who have donated organs are there and breathing well. It is amazing that someone may think twice while donating an organ yet the same person would not do so to receive one.

In my opinion, we all should some times be at a position of doing what we would like others to do for our selves. This is an important initiative that would make our society to grow. It’s always good to help those in need than to need help. That does not mean that we should not care while donating our organs. We are still responsible and whole responsible for our lives. After all, no body has an extra organ and therefore the issue must be viewed at the perspective of donor’s sacrifice. Therefore, there are different things that we should consider before donating our organs to recipients. Such include our current health status and the status after donation. By doing so, we are at a better position of examining it, and coming up with a clear decision on whether to give or not. For example, there would be no need for a medically fit person to donate a body organ to save life and after some few days die. Also the state of mind as far as the donation is concerned. Is your mind ready to help by donating? Brain is the controller of every thing in the human body and so it might happen that without the consent of brain, some things as crucial as surgical operations that are a must during transplantation would bring out issues. But what could save a great deal is the changing of our attitudes to accommodate organ donation in our lives.

The final decision to donate an organ may be influenced by a wide range of factors. It is a good idea to consult medical experts before engaging yourself in organ donation for medical advice. Doctors may advise you to go ahead and donate, or drop your idea if at all your body is not at a position of donating. They may also advise on the type of meals that a donor of an organ should feed on to avoid future injuries in the body.

Sharing ideas of your intention to donate with friends and relatives is another important issue. Members of the family willing to donate an organ or at a position to must be spoken to before the donation (Hubpages, 2010), and if a positive word is given, this person may give in. By doing so one is at a position of hearing their views as far as this mater is concerned.

Having known scientific facts that an organ of a person about to die with an early harvesting and proper preservation can be transplanted to a recipient, I find it important to be done, but with the owners consent. Saving a life is good than to loose two. And if one is in any way going to die in few hours, I think it’s necessary to use that chance to ensure that another life is saved. It is a good thing for people to know the importance of organ donation as a way of saving live.

Organ donation is the most tremendous gift one can receive today. Everyone should put this into consideration. It’s a socially upright thing to think of becoming an organ donor, since nobody knows if you may estate from being an organ donor today and tomorrow becomes an organ recipient.

To those that have in one way or the other received or given their body organs, they portray a good heroic example of human acts since, for example, one organ from one person can save up to 50 people (MedlinePlus, 2009). This can lead to saving many lives that would otherwise have been lost. In Michigan, a positive attitude towards organ donation would assist the many people in need, and would be a heroic move.

I want to call upon people to save life today by signing for organ donation. This is not enough. A call to every one to join in donating and campaigning to mobilize the mass on the importance of it, and this is an extended hand. Further more, such disasters can only be eliminated by nothing lesser than rendering our bodies for this cause.

Department of State. (2008). Organ donation. Web.

Hubpages. (2010). The importance of organ donation. Web.

MedlinePlus. (2009). Organ donation. Web.

Prange. M. (1998). The importance of organ donation. Web.

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10 reasons to become an organ donor

The need for organ donors has been rising significantly over the years. This growing need is due to the fact that the number of people with end-stage organ failure has been increasing and, with advances in transplantation, a greater proportion of these people are eligible for organ transplantation .

One of the biggest obstacles to organ transplantation is getting individuals to register to become organ donors before they are faced with a tragic situation. Consider these reasons why you should be an organ donor.

1. Organ donation is an opportunity to help others. People who are on an organ waiting list typically have end-stage organ disease that significantly impacts their quality of life and may be near the end of their life. Receiving an organ can become a life-changing event for these people. It can also help a family work through the grieving process and deal with their loss by knowing their loved one is helping save the lives of others.

2. The organ waiting list is always long.  Every day, there are approximately 107,000 people on the waiting list nationally for an organ. 

3. People are dying while waiting for an organ.   Each day 17 people in the United States die waiting for a transplant.

4. Nebraska needs more organ donors.  In Nebraska alone, there are approximately 350 people waiting for an organ . Only about 58 percent of Nebraskans have registered as organ donors. In 2020, 72 people in Nebraska who died donated organs, resulting in 214 organ transplants.

5. One organ donor can help multiple people. One organ donor has the potential to save eight lives.

6. Living donors fill a crucial need.   A living donor can donate a kidney or a portion of their liver to a friend or family member or even altruistically and continue to live a normal life with very little restrictions. People waiting for a kidney transplant make up more than 80 percent of people on the organ waiting list and people waiting for a liver transplant makeup approximately 12 percent.

7. Organ donation can be a rewarding and positive experience. It can help a family work through the grieving process and deal with their loss by knowing their loved one is helping save the lives of others.

8. There are no age exclusions to donate.  If you are otherwise healthy, many of your organs could still be viable for an organ donation. The transplant surgeon evaluates the organs and decides whether they are suitable on a case-by-case basis.

9. Very few medical conditions disqualify you from donating your organs . It may be determined that certain organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other tissues and organs may be fine. Simply put, a disease in one organ does not preclude other organs from being donated.

10. Most religions support organ donation. This includes Catholics, Protestants, Islam and most branches of Judaism who see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others. If you are unsure, the federal website, OrganDonor.gov provides religious views on organ donation and transplantation by denomination.

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What are the Benefits of Organ Donation?

What are the Benefits of Organ Donation? Did you know up to eight lives can be saved by organ donation? For someone awaiting a transplant, donation can mean the difference between life and death. It gives them hope for a second chance. For donor families, they can find solace in the knowledge of their loved one’s lifesaving legacy. Just by saying yes, here is what one donor can do.

Heart Donation Successful heart transplant recipients enjoy higher energy levels, a better quality of life, and the blessing of living longer. In fact, the overall survival rate is more than 85 percent after one year and almost 70 percent after five years for adults.

“Just two days ago, I got to call a mother and share with her that we were able to place her little boy’s heart and that was something that she really thought would never happen because he had been so sick. Being able to make that phone call to share that her child lives on through organ donation is just an amazing thing.

It means so much to know that there are people out there who are just so kind, so helpful and so selfless. Donor families are willing to reach out on one of the worst days of their lives and think about giving someone else the best day of their lives, so it's pretty cool.” – Kerry Apken, Family Support Coordinator.

Kerry Apken, Family Support Coordinator

Kidney Donation Kidneys are the most needed and most commonly transplanted organ. While dialysis is a life-saving treatment, it’s a less-than-perfect replacement for an actual human kidney. People who undergo a transplant not only see an improvement in their quality of life, but they will no longer require dialysis treatments or experience the side effects caused by dialysis, like nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, etc. Most kidney transplants improve the lives of recipients for an average of 12-15 years.

“I had my kidney transplant 26 years ago today! I have lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, so over time, my kidneys stopped working. The answer was a transplant. My youngest brother wanted to be the donor. We were not a perfect antigen match but with the medicine and by taking care of myself, it’s still working! My brother saved my life and we are both still doing well after all this time.” – Rebecca Klutho

Rebecca Klutho, Kidney Recipient

Liver Donation Because of the vast number of functions the liver is responsible for, a liver donation can save people from chronic infections like hepatitis or damage from drugs or alcohol. A donated liver can sometimes be split between two recipients, which means one liver donor could potentially save the lives of two people. About 75 percent of people who undergo liver transplants live for at least five years.

“My Dad was able to give his liver, kidneys, and donate his tissue too. We even received a letter from a recipient and that was really cool, especially being a teenager going through grief myself. The recipient’s mom wanted us to know that the transplant her son received was amazing and that my Dad's gifts were changing lives. She told us that she got her son back and she would be forever thankful to us.” – Jessica Browne-Carlson

Jessica Browne-Carlson, Donor Family

Lung Donation Not only does lung donation breathe new life into the recipient but it may be the only treatment for those suffering from end-stage lung failure, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, emphysema, or pulmonary fibrosis. A donor’s two lungs are usually transplanted into one recipient.  

“A month after being listed, I got the call and got my brand-new lungs. It was just amazing. I can't describe the feeling of being able to actually take a breath, like a whole big breath! It’s something that people generally take for granted — breathing and to have a conversation or laugh and not cough, and it was just amazing. I could run with my kids and take them to the park.

I can't even acknowledge how grateful I am to my donors’ family who made that completely selfless gift of organ donation. When you donate your or your loved one’s organs, it doesn't only affect the person receiving them, it also affects their family, their extended family, their friends, and the community that we live in.” – Marcia Freeman

Marcia Freeman, Lung Recipient

Pancreas Donation A pancreas transplant often leads to a longer, better quality of life in addition to better-controlled blood sugar for those with diabetes. Recipients are likely to no longer need insulin and the damage caused by diabetes should slow down.

Intestines Donation Nearly 3,000 lives have been improved to date from successful intestines donations. An intestinal transplant is a last resort treatment option for patients with intestinal failure who develop life-threatening complications.

Why You Should Consider Organ Donation In the past year, the incredible generosity of donors and their families touched the lives of thousands of people in need of a transplant. During 2020, 815 organs were transplanted through the gifts of 278 generous organ donors, making it a remarkable year for saving lives. Still, there is more work to be done. By registering as an organ and tissue donor, you can bring hope to patients and families who are holding out for a miracle. Sign up for the donor registry and increase the chance that patients waiting will get the transplants they need to survive and get the chance to witness the benefits of organ donation first-hand.

The Benefit of Organ Donation

How it works

If there is one thing that everyone in the world can agree on it is the fact that eventually we are all going to die. Death is going to happen to each and every one of us, and the thought of dying is usually very tragic to most people. It is not knowing what is going to happen that can cause the fear of dying in a person or a family. Diseases and tragic accidents are usually the cause for deaths.

However, there are some life- threatening situations that we do have the ability to control. Life is spared for many through organ donation. Organ donation saves hundreds of lives each day; however, there is still a great number of deaths that occur each day as people on an organ transplant waiting list continue to wait. Organ donation can be given by anyone and can save many lives.

Everyone should understand the importance of being an organ donor. No matter where you come from in life you can be a donor. Thousands of individuals die annually within the u.  s. alone awaiting organ transplants. Today the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) reported that 114,621 people need a lifesaving organ. A new person is added to the transplant list every 10 minutes (Data). While only 3 out of 1000 people die in a way that allows for organ donation (Organ). This shows the growing need for more organ donors. The choice that you or your family makes allows a person that is on their way to death the possible gift of life. Although many families suffer when they lose a loved one they can find comfort in the fact that their loss has help someone else survive. Because of organ donation life for many people can go on to live very long and happy lives. It is often hard for someone who has just lost a loved one to make such a choice; however, they should find some comfort that death of their loved one would not be the complete end for them if life could be given to another person.

A statistic from UNOS show that almost 75,145 are on a waiting list for an organ transplant, and that the need for donated organs continues to grow faster than the supply of available organs. Evidence shows that since many families do not consent to their loved one’s organs being donated that is a big factor in the shortage. The refusal typically comes from families that have never discussed the importance of organ donation with their loved one. People don’t usually talk about this because they don’t like to think about someone they love and care about dying. No one likes to speak regarding the “what ifs” of life and death. At some point everyone must come to realize that death and dying is a part of life therefore, discussing with your family ways to prolong life will not only be a benefit to others but may also end up being a benefit to you and your loved one.

More facts regarding organ donation and transplantation need to be available to the public. Some individuals believe that those waiting for transplants are just old people; however, this is not true. A statistic from UNOS showed that 77% of people on the transplant list ae under the age of 65 and 3% are under 18 (Data).  Also 88 lives on average are saved every day from organ donations (Key). This data may persuade individuals and their families to notice the importance of being a donor. the public doesn’t seem to be aware of the various problems associated with organ donation. Organ donors vary from newborns to seniors. There is 25 different organs and tissues that may be donated (Surprising). Important organs are often transported many miles to a recipient in need. Daily about 20 individuals on the list die because an organ wasn’t available to them. One person can save up to 8 lives and enhance the lives of up to thirty others (Data). Because of the donation they received organ recipients can lead full productive lives for years following a transplant.

Losing someone you love will sadly become a devastating reality for all of us at one point. It should be a comforting feeling to know that once death happens we can help give life to another. This should to be enough motivation for any individual to become a donor. There is no better way to chance something so sad into something good. You can give then chance to some to see the person they care about become healthy again, to see their kids or grandchildren grow, or for a baby to grow to be an adult. Becoming a donor would be a present beyond belief for several families, and the possibility for the family of the lost loved one to understand that life for somebody else might be continued thanks to an easy act of becoming a donor and caring for our other people. There are so many people in the world that have this strong will and desire to live. Without more people becoming organ donners that just ca not be possible.

The choice to become an organ donor is straightforward. The primary step is to speak to your family and loved ones regarding organ donation. Any one person can become a donor just by signing a donor card, like your driver’s license and having a witness of the signature; however, more importantly make sure you tell your family about your intentions to be a donor, so they can make sure that your wishes are carried out. Even with a card signed your family must give the consent before your desires are carried out. Once families discuss organ donation and are aware of their loved one’s request to do this, they feel some comfort knowing that the gift of life is being given to someone else. It offers the family some form of comfort knowing that their loved one’s death was not in vain. Being an organ donor has some many rewards for you and your family. You can feel comfort that when its finally your time you can change someone’s life for the better. You can also feel at peace when you lose someone you love knowing that your loss will be someone else’s gain.

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Donating life: the importance of organ donation

The icon on your driver’s license showing that you’re an organ and tissue donor has a much greater impact than many of us realize. One organ donor has the potential to save eight lives and eye and tissue donors can enhance the lives of as many as 50 people. For some people with end-stage organ failure, it is truly a matter of life and death. Add to that the thousands more whose lives can be improved through tissue and cornea donations that can help them move, see and live better.

Many organs and tissues can be donated and transplanted. Organ donation has many positive effects on the donor and recipients who experience the greatest benefit. Even farther-reaching effects outside of the donors and recipients is the impact on families and friends who love and support those in need of a transplant. Organ donation can also be a rewarding and positive experience for the family of the donor. It can help a family work through the grieving process and deal with their loss by knowing their loved one is helping save the lives of others.

People of all ages, races and ethnicities, and even those with pre-existing health conditions can be potential donors. When a person dies, they are evaluated for donor suitability based on their medical history. The most important factor for a successful transplant is a compatible blood type between donor and recipient.

There is a national computerized list of patients waiting for organ donation. When a donor becomes available the computer identifies the best matched recipient for each organ. Some factors considered in matching include compatible blood and tissue types, similar body size, severity of patient illness and time on waiting list. The match for a recipient begins at a local level and moves to a national search if no local match exists. A patient’s financial or celebrity status does not affect the match or give them priority status.

“Organ donation is a personal decision and the ultimate gift one could bestow on another human being,” says Tina Stoebe MS, NPD-BC, CPAN, and Clinical Instructor for nursing professional development at Mather Hospital. “Invest time to become knowledgeable regarding the facts around organ donation so that you can make an educated decision. The most important part of this decision-making process is talking to your family and friends regarding your wishes. One day they may need to speak on your behalf. Ways to be certain that your wishes will be honored include registering on the liveonny.org website and including your wishes surrounding organ donation in your advance directives and any end of life documents,” Stoebe says.

Surveys show that 95 percent of adults in the United States support organ donation. Although most people support donation, one of the biggest obstacles to organ donation is simply getting people to register to become a donor. Start by doing your own research, talk to your family and friends to make your wishes known and register as a donor. It’s easy and can be done online. For more information visit organdonor.gov .

Mather Hospital respects the wishes of donors and family in assisting with the giving the gift of life. We work closely with LiveOnNYto coordinate organ donation. LiveOnNY is accredited by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS, which oversees the organ transplant waiting list in the United States).

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Home > Books > Organ Donation and Transplantation - Current Status and Future Challenges

Organ Donation and Transplantation: “Life after Death”

Submitted: 13 November 2017 Reviewed: 03 April 2018 Published: 25 July 2018

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.76962

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Organ Donation and Transplantation - Current Status and Future Challenges

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Organ donation is defined as giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person. Organ transplantation is the only option to save lives in patients affected by terminal organ failures and improve their quality of life. However, there is a disparity exists between the supply and demand of donated organs, leads to a loss of many lives. The number of organ transplantation have gradually increased in the last two decades and provide excellent results in children and young adults, and are challenging by the growing proportion of elderly transplant patients with co morbidity. The results of organ transplantation continue to improve, as a consequence of the innovations and the improvements in peri-operative management. This chapter describes organ donation and transplantation and its trends and challenges.

• organ donation
• psychosocial

Author Information

Kanmani job *.

• Amrita College of Nursing, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India

Anooja Antony

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

Organ donation is defined as giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person. Organ transplantation is the only option to save lives in patients affected by terminal organ failures and improve their quality of life. However, there is a disparity exists between the supply and demand of donated organs, leads to a loss of many lives. The number of organ transplantation have gradually increased in the last two decades and provide excellent results in children and young adults, and are challenging by the growing proportion of elderly transplant patients with co morbidity. The results of organ transplantation continue to improve, as a consequence of the innovations and the improvements in peri-operative management.

Organ transplantation currently depends on the availability of human organs. Their scarcity means that there is a waiting list of almost 63,000 in the European Union, and over 100,000 people in the United States according to the recent survey. The process of obtaining organs for donation and transplantation purely depends on the resources of health services and by health professionals’ performance in potential donor identification and management tasks. However, in accordance with the current legislation it is mainly subjected to a personal or family decision, strongly mediated by psychosocial processes. Therefore, the need to analyze and intervene both in the practices of the professionals involved in the process of organ generation and in the attitudes of the general population need to stressed and addressed [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ].

2. Organ transplantation and organ donation: an overview

Organ transplantation involves the surgical implantation of an organ or section of an organ into a person whose own organ is failing. The donor organ may come from both deceased individual as well as from a living donor. The patients psychological and behavior aspect as well their emotional response and mental health and adherence to medical regimen should be assessed before and after organ transplantation. The living donor’s psychological response towards organ donation (most commonly for kidney and liver segment transplantation) is an important aspect to consider in the transplantation process.

Organ donation is defined as “giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person” (Organ procurement of Transplant Network (OPTN), 2015), organ donation has the potential to save lives. The organs donated from one single donor can save up to eight lives. Organ transplantation may be one of the options left to sustain someone’s life. However, the disparity that exists between the supply and demand of donated organs, leads to a loss of many lives. Based on recent OPTN data, approximately 21 people will die each day while waiting for a transplant in the United States (US). Currently, 123, 358 people are awaiting organs and on the transplant list in the US with this number growing and the number of donated organs declining.

Asian Indians are more likely to have higher rates of having obesity and diabetes when compared with other Asian subgroups which make them at an increased risk of needing a donated organ [ 35 ]. These conditions can lead one to develop coronary artery disease and hypertension which then can lead to chronic kidney disease and other chronic illnesses. Patients who suffer from chronic kidney disease need regular dialysis which can ultimately lead them to organ transplantation to improve one’s quality of life. Also, conditions such as diabetes and obesity can be detrimental to one’s life and can lead to fatty liver disease which can lead to chronic liver disease requiring liver transplantation if the liver decompensates.

The development of organ transplantation in the second half of the 20th century has been a remarkable achievement. Recently; organ transplantation is one of the most effective options for those with an end-stage organ failure. Its success has been basically dependent on public awareness, support and active participation. Without these factors, the efficiency of organ transplantation and the consequent saving or extension of lives would have undoubtedly suffered adversely.

The number of patients in need of organ transplantation has increased at a rapid pace; in contrast, the number of available organs has increased only slightly. Expanded criteria for donor selection, such as older age, have resulted in more people who meet the criteria for brain death becoming organ donors although fewer organs are transplanted from each donor. Improvements in automobile and highway safety, as well as increased enforcement of gun control laws, have also contributed to a plateau in the number of young, healthy donors. Public education efforts that encourage organ donation may be effective in getting more people to sign organ donor cards, but most individuals who do so will never be in a position to become organ donors.

Faced with increasing numbers of patients who need transplantation, deaths on the waiting list, and a fixed number of available organs, some transplant programs are working to increase the number of transplants from living donors. Although living donation has always been an option for some types of transplants, many programs have been reluctant to promote it, as living donation requires invasive surgery on a healthy person with associated risks of morbidity and mortality. For example, since dialysis is an option for patients with end-stage renal disease, surgery on a healthy donor may be difficult to justify, despite the dialysis patient’s diminished quality of life.

The most important in organ donation is to maximize the psychological status and well-being of the donors before and after transplantation has become the foremost goal of all transplantation centres. The psychological issues that mainly concern with the living organ donation includes prevention of psychological harm, ensuring the donors are fully informed and decide to donate without coercion, monitoring donor psychosocial outcomes are intimately linked to the factors that historically served as barriers to use of organs from living donors. These barriers can be overcome by the motivating of the public and creating awareness and responsibility among oneself.

Organs that can be transplanted from the living donor includes one kidney, part of intestine, pancreas, islets of Langerhans, bone, part of liver, one testis, bone marrow and blood. The organ that can be transplanted from the deceased donor are heart, kidney, pancreas, stomach, hand, skin, blood vessels, lungs, liver, intestine, testis, cornea and heart valve.

Autograft: Transplanting a person’s tissues from one site and use it in another site of his body and is called autograft. For example, removal of skin from the legs and using it for damaged skin face or other exposed part.

Allograft: Transplant of an organ between two genetically non identical individuals, it is called allograft. Due to the genetic difference, the donor’s organ will be treated as foreign by the recipient and will try to destroy it. This is called s rejection.

Isograft: Transplant of organ/tissue from a donor to genetically identical recipient is called isograft. There will not be any immune response hence no transplant rejection.

Xenograft: Transplantation of organ/tissues forms one species to another species. For example, the heart valve of pig is transplanted successfully to human.

Split transplant: An organ like liver retrieved from the deceased donor can be divided between two recipients, usually an adult and a child.

Domino transplant: When the lungs are to be transplanted, surgically it is easier to replace them along with the heart. If the recipient’s original heart is healthy, it can be transplanted into another recipient in the need of one.

ABO incompatible transplantation: The immune system of young children aged below 12 months might have developed fully. They can receive organs from incompatible donors.

Live donors: A living person, mentally and physically healthy can donate one of a paired organ, part of an organ or a tissue. The organs donated are kidneys, part of live, one of the lung, part of small intestine, skin, bone marrow, one of the testis and one of the ovaries. Live donor can either be related or unrelated.

Unrelated donors: For altruistic reasons, a person can donate one of his organs to an unrelated donor. According to TOHO act, the unrelated donor should be known to the recipient and have some obligation to him. It has to be established that there is no monetary transaction between them. But in many other countries, even a stranger can donate one of his organs to a needy person on altruistic grounds.

Deceased donors: Organs are harvested from brain dead person whose respiration and circulation are maintained artificially. Brain dead has to be certified by a team of doctors nominated by Government I every organ retrieval centers.

Paired exchange: When a living donor is not compatible with the related recipient, but may be compatible for another recipient. That second recipient related donor is compatible to the first recipient, then permission can be granted for transplantation. The surgery for all four donors and recipient are conducted simultaneously and anonymity is kept until after the transplant.

Spousal donation: A spouse can donate an organ to the partner. It has to be recorded that the couple is legally married.

3. Current scenario: trends

Despite advances in medicine and technology, and increased awareness of organ donation and transplantation, the gap between supply and demand continues to widen. Each year, the number of people in the waiting list is increasing in both donor and transplant. The donation statistics according to OPTN Annual report shows that in 2016, total of 41,335 organs were donated. It can be either deceased or living and four out of five donations came from deceased donors and four out of ten from living donors. According to the report by OTPN 2018, 115,033 people need life-saving organ transplant, of those 74,926 people are the active waiting list candidates.

The real reason behind a living person’s interest in donating one’s organ is important to determine but it is often difficult. Now days, money has become the motivation for donation. The relationships also have played a great role in increasing donation rates. The shortage of available organs can be reduced if; people choose to donate their organs after they die. If more people did that the issue regarding organ shortage can be minimized.

The trend is expected to accelerate each year. Many organ procurement and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations actively participate to increase the donation rates. The organizations take various to steps against traditional social taboos.

The approach, known as “donation after cardiac death” (DCD), usually involves patients who have suffered brain damage, such as from a car accident or a stroke. After family members have made the difficult decision to discontinue a ventilator or other life-sustaining treatment, organ-bank representatives talk to them about donation. Sometimes, the donor is suffering from an incurable disease also end up with the decision of organ donation.

According to U.S Department of Health and Human Services, more than 1,23,000 men, women and children currently needed life-saving organ transplants every 10 minutes and another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. In 2014, more than 8500 deceased donors made possible approximately 24,000 organ transplants. In addition, there were nearly 6000 transplants from living donors. In India, nationally with a population of 1.2 billion people, the statistics stands 0.08 persons as organ donor populations. Mrithasanjeevani, Kerala network of organ sharing which began in 2012, also states that the need for organ transplantation is high as the patients in waiting list is increasing day by day who requires organ transplantation.

The need for organ has gone up substantially all over the world. India also suffers from acute organ shortage with little to no solution for this issue. It is estimated that every year 1.5 lakh people suffer from renal failure out of which only 3000 people get donors. Similarly, every year around 2 lakh people die of liver failure or cancer and rarely get any help in the form of organ donors. It is the same for heart patients, for every 50,000 heart attack patients there are only 15 hearts available for transplant. Therefore, there is an urgent need for widespread campaigns to spread awareness about organ donation in India and to bridge the gap between supply and demand. The numbers that are mentioned here are estimates and real numbers could be far more than this, it is scary because this means very few people get relief and get a second chance in life.

The main reasons for organ shortage in India are mainly ignorance and lack of knowledge. People are not well informed enough about the benefits of organ donation. Today social media and so many other forums can promote the positives of organ donation and how it will save so many lives if more people register themselves for organ donation. The reason for organ shortage is myth and superstition. Many people do not want to donate their organs even after death because of so many myths and superstition they are instilled with. People with existing medical condition or old people, who wish to donate, do not donate thinking they are not fit or eligible. Almost everyone can donate some part or the other unless you have any extreme medical condition.

The need for organ donation is necessary because out of the 1.5 lakh people who need kidney in India only 3000 people receive them, only 1 out of 30 people receive kidney and 90% of people in the waiting list die without getting any donor. Around 70% liver transplants are dependent on a live donor but 30% dependent on cadaver (corpse) donations. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase the organ donation rates and give a person a second chance in their life.

4. Challenges in organ donation

As far as the challenges concerned it includes mainly donor’s motives for donation, the predominant ways in which donors arrive at the decision to donate, and the donors’ psychological status and its relationship to their fitness as donors.

4.1. Pre-donation challenges

4.1.1. donor’s motives.

Most donors are likely to be motivated by multiple factors. These factors include intrinsic factors (e.g., desires to relieve the suffering of another or to act in according to the religious convictions) and extrinsic factors (e.g., the social pressures or perceived norms) that may operate simultaneously. The particular combination of motivational forces will also differ depending on whether and how the donor is related to the recipient.

Among living related donors, it has long been assumed that family members or emotional partners are motivated primarily for saving the lives of their loved ones. Such motives are indeed the most commonly expressed feelings, as noted in a variety of studies over the past 30 years. Among nondirected living donors (individuals donating to unrelated patients whom the donors did not select)(NDLDs), it was identified as the altruistic/humanitarian motives, along with beliefs that the donor’s self-worth would be improved, and feelings of moral and religious obligation or self- identity.

4.1.2. Donor’s decision-making

The motivation for the organ donation is purely on the donor’s decision of organ donation and it may be influenced by many factors including the relationship to the recipients. Decision-making swiftness may indicate the type of decision being made. There appear to be two decision-making approaches that include the moral decision making and the rational decision making. “Moral decision-making” involves awareness that one’s actions can affect another; ascription of responsibility to oneself; acceptance of the social/moral norm governing the behavior; and taking action consistent with that norm. Because moral decision-making does not involve the costs and benefits of a given behavior but, instead, is based on perceived norms governing that behavior, it is likely to lead to non- deliberative, instantaneous decisions. In contrast, “rational” decision-making includes various steps that focus on gathering relevant information, evaluating alternatives, selecting an alternative, and implementing the decision.

4.1.3. Support

It includes mainly the assessment of the donor’s available physical, financial and emotional support. It is necessary to identify whether the donor have someone to provide care in the recovery period, have sufficient financial support and so on. This important to avoid distress if the donor develops any complications. Finally, does the donor have the support of significant others for being a donor, or is he or she choosing to donate over the objections of persons who have a legitimate interest in the outcome of an autonomous decision.

4.1.4. Family attitudes toward donation

Spouse and family attitudes about donation should also be explored. Collateral interviews with significant others is necessary, especially those who will be providing tangible support to the donor during the recovery period, should be conducted whenever possible. Conflicts between potential donors and significant others should be addressed and, ideally, resolved prior to surgery itself in order to avoid conflicts later. Family members should provide a good understanding of the donor’s wishes and motives, even if they agree to disagree to the donor’s decision.

4.1.5. Behavioral and psychological health

The behavioral and psychological health of the donor should also be considered before donation. It is important to identify donor’s lifestyle is sufficiently healthy to reduce unnecessary risk for both donor and recipient. Many potential donors may have some unhealthy behaviors, such as moderate obesity or smoking. It is necessary to identify that there is sufficient time for the donor to reduce risks (e.g., lose weight, stop smoking). Moreover, it needs to be taken care of that the donor is emotionally stable to cope with stresses which may come up before, during, and after the donation. Hence it is important to identify psychological and behavioral status of the donor or else it may affect the quality of life.

4.1.6. Donor-recipient relationship

The relationship between the donor and recipient is a complex matter. Even when both parties are agree for donation and transplant, family dynamics may be complicated, and other family members may assertively involve themselves in the decision-making process. The donor may have unrealizable expectations that transplant will alter his or her relationship with the recipient. The health care team should not expect an ideal relationship in which all interactions between donor and recipient are harmonious. However, obvious tensions and overt psychological issues should be addressed. Joint interviews, involving both donor and recipient, should be avoided early in the evaluation process in order to preserve privacy and give the potential donor the opportunity to express reservations or “opt out” gracefully.

4.1.7. Diversity issues

Non directed donors may have diversity concerns that may affect the organ donation. The potential donors should be assessed for comfort with donation to recipients of different genders, races, religions, sexual orientations, nationalities, ages, underlying diseases, and lifestyles. Donors who express objections, fears, or concerns about who might receive their organ may need to be deferred until they can receive counseling.

4.1.8. Psychological status of potential donors

The potential donor’s psychological status is of greatest concern for donation and transplantation. Concerns have been particularly high in case of unrelated donation (either directed to a specific patient, or NDLD): the willingness or desire to donate to a stranger has been historically viewed with suspicion and as likely to reflect significant psychopathology. There is no doubt that some potential donors will be psychologically poor candidates to serve as donors.

4.1.9. Post-donation challenges

The donors’ perceptions of their physical functional, psychological, and social well-being were found to be either nonsignificantly different from or significantly better than levels reported in the general population. The post challenges mainly includes recipient death or graft loss, donor medical complications, donor history of mood or other psychiatric problems, and poor donor relationships with recipient or family. The other factor is that it may affect the donor’s quality of life if any complication arises.

The post transplantation challenges are many which include minimizing rejection risks, immunosuppression, organ shortage, handling of the stressors of transplantation, psychosocial adaptation and psychological disorders and so on.

4.1.10. Minimizing rejection risks

The twin conditions of antibody sensitization and antibody-mediated rejection remain challenging and frustrating to treat. The recent drugs which are used to desensitize patients or reverse antibody-mediated rejection, especially chronic antibody mediated rejection is totally unsatisfactory. Development of therapies those are more effective and less toxic should be made available. Recent regimens used for antibody desensitization and reversal of antibody-mediated rejection include plasmapheresis, immunoglobulin (IVIG), and rituximab, an anti-chimeric, anti-CD20 antibody. Recently, the proteasome inhibitor Velcade has also been reported to reverse refractory antibody rejection. Eculizumab, a humanized anti-C5 monoclonal antibody appears to protect the renal allograft despite the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA). None of these agents have been tested in rigorous studies.

4.1.11. Immunosuppression

This is one of the major challenges after organ transplantation. Many studies have suggested that most of the late graft loss occurs because of immunologic reasons, frequently antibody-mediated. So the approach of minimizing immunosuppression is necessary with the present drugs to reduce toxicities may actually be helpful in the long-term survival of the graft. The toxicities are minimized by allowing more grafts to be rejected by immune mechanisms. Hence, development of effective agents that lack long-term toxicities so that we can maintain optimum immunosuppression over the long-term.

4.1.12. Stressors after transplantation

In the perioperative period, the focus is on the patient’s physical recovery, with possible rejection episodes and other medical complications causing anxiety and emotional strain. Within the first days after transplantation, a postoperative delirium can occur. The patient can present with symptoms of mental confusion, language disturbances, and occasional hallucinations and delusions are often a frightening experience to patients and their families. Acute brain dysfunction can occur in intensive care patients and patients after surgery. The corticosteroids which are administered for immunosuppression cause these problems. Some of the patients experience problems in accepting the new organ from another individual and suffer with feeling of guilt towards the donor which, in turn, can increase psychological stress and nonadherence [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].

In the long-term postoperative period, medication side effects and associated comorbidities become central stressors impeding patient’s life quality. Most common comorbidities seen are infections, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lipometabolic disorders, adipositas, cardiovascular diseases, oncological diseases, osteoporosis, and chronic kidney failure [ 12 , 13 ]. Furthermore, psychiatric symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, agitation, psychosis) and neurological symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, delirium) can occur as neurotoxic side effects in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs.

Faced with the multiple health risks, patients often continue to experience anxiety and worries regarding possible retransplantation, serious comorbidities, and death. Even patients in good physical health are confronted with severe challenges, for example, regaining their previously lost or restricted social roles as family members and partners (including sexual activity) and returning to work or taking up other meaningful activities. Financial constraints and legal disputes with health or pension insurance agencies constitute other possible sources of psychological strain.

5. Psychosocial adaptation and psychological disorders

After the transplantation, the psychosocial burden more severe in preoperative period than postoperative period. Nevertheless, patients themselves have to demonstrate considerable coping skills. In the best case, transplant patients learn to adapt to their new situation, often by reevaluating life goals and by focusing on more positive consequences, for example, personal growth. On the other hand, unsuccessful readjustment can lower the quality of life and psychiatric morbidity. The most common psychological disorders among patients before and after transplantation are affective and anxiety disorders.

The literature review shows that prevalence of depression in 20–25% of cases before and after kidney transplantation. Less information is available concerning patients receiving other organs. Prior to and following lung transplantation, depression seems to be prevalent in approximately 30% of patients. Hence these show that the depression is a major challenge after transplantation. These issues can be reduced by personal and social resources (resilience factors), that is, favorable coping skills, self-efficacy, sense of coherence, optimism, and social support.

6. Factors affecting donor’s motivation

There are many factors affecting donor’s motivation which includes feelings of love and responsibility, spiritual motives, and greater success rate of organ donation.

6.1. Feelings of love and responsibility

Motives for donating organ to their relative patients were that they tended to do something for their loved ones. In fact, they feel responsible for their problems. They do not treat others’ problems with indifference and attempted to do whatever they could for resolving the problems experienced by transplant recipients. It is considered as their own responsibilities to help them to get rid of their problems. The feel like they are the ones who need to support their patients.

6.2. Close and constant companionship

Another factor affecting the participants’ feeling of responsibility for donation to their family members was close and constant companionship with recipients. This close and constant companionship made the participants to clearly understand the recipients’ conditions and hence, it had resulted in their decision on organ donation in order to alleviate recipients’ problems. This close and constant companionship with patients help family members understand patients’ problems well and increase their degree of commitment to do something for patient’s pain and discomfort. They also noted that this had made them experience deeper shared emotions with their patients and hence, required them to feel responsible for minimizing their patient’s problems.

6.3. Inability to tolerate recipient’s discomfort

Another motive for organ donation was one’s difficulty in tolerating recipient’s discomfort. Love for their sick family members had made the participants feel responsible and decide on doing something for solving their patient’s problems. Their patient’s pain, suffering and discomfort cause a great inconvenience and irritation which lead them to the decision of organ donation. They hoped that organ donation alleviate their patient’s problems [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 36 ].

6.4. Spiritual motives for donation

Religious beliefs played a significant role in motivating to organ donation. Some of them believed that donation was a way for expiating their past sins. They referred to faith in God, reliance on Him, and hope for a successful transplant as the important motives for organ donation. Some of them even accused themselves of causing their family members to develop organ failure and believed that donation was a way for alleviating their feelings of guilt. Such a practice was particularly common among the parents of sick children. Some of them considered donation as a God-approved practice, and noted that God has helped them donate their organs. They noted that they donated their organs for gratifying God and believed that he sees it and help them in all bad situations.

6.5. Greater success rate of organ transplantation

The category is the greater success of organ transplantation. In other words, obtaining information and realizing the greater benefits of organ transplantation had motivated the participants to opt for organ donation. Some of them reported that they had never thought about donation until obtaining information from their patient’s physicians. However, after obtaining adequate information, they had made an irreversible decision about organ donation. Accordingly, a major motive for organ donation was the lower likelihood of organ rejection.

7. Measures to overcome challenges for organ donation

The decisions regarding organ donation based on the personal beliefs (religious, cultural, family, social and body integrity) levels of knowledge about organ donation and previous interaction with the health care team. Many maintained positive attitudes to organ donation despite significant reservations about the organ donation process. Resistance to organ donation found to be less in the case of living donation for family.

There are some religious beliefs that can have both positive and negative influences, these often stemmed from uncertainty or misrepresentation of religious edicts. One solution would be to actively engage religious leaders in the transplant community, especially when it has been reported that, across the major religions, there are very few cases where organ donation can be seen to be inconsistent with religious beliefs. Religious leaders should be made available in hospitals and other transplantation setting to assist families in making decisions regarding organ donation and potentially to remove the misperceptions. Staff members who are involved in approaching families to request consent for donation should be part of the awareness programs and resources about religious concerns. Similarly, cultural sensitivity to issues such as apprehensiveness to discuss death among certain groups or individuals and the importance to many of death rituals may improve dialog regarding organ donation.

Studies have shown that engaging some minority groups in the health care system and creating a sense of belonging and ownership can improve compliance with organ donation. As a consequence, more efforts should be made to create positive interactions within the health care team members, especially for minority groups, to improve the organ donation rates. Although many of the studies have showed that higher socio-economic status and education were associated with a stronger willingness to be an organ donor. Some of the strong reservations held, even among those with generally positive views towards donation, such as concerns that agreeing to donation would discourage doctors from caring so much about saving their lives in case of an emergency or that it would result in the premature removal of their organs or indeed prevent them from having an open coffin at their funerals, are examples of very real barriers that can be readily addressed through information. Through a proper awareness and motivation the donation rates can be improved which can save many lives.

7.1. Psychological care

Psychological consultation is essential for all disease stages enabling patients to better cope with their extraordinarily stressful situation. A need for psychological care was found in up to 50% of transplant patients. Educational and supportive therapies are of utmost importance but also cognitive-behavioral interventions including relaxation techniques can also be considered. Less common methods like hypnotherapy and “Quality of Life Therapy” have also been utilized for overcoming the challenges.

Moreover, family members as well as caregivers of transplant patients show increased psychological strain before and after transplantation. Family counseling, and psychotherapeutic support, can help reduce psychological strain, thus also maintaining the valuable social support provided by care givers and family members of the transplant patient. Henceforth, the family and care givers should also be considered in psychosocial evaluation to overcome the problems.

7.2. Alternative methods to increase donation

In view of ethical, legal and political issues, it was deemed important to obtain some opinion about alternative methods to increase organ donation rates. Financial incentives were given to increase organ donation. Many in both donor and non-donor groups were given a reasonable incentive. Education and dissemination of information about donation and transplantation was important to increase organ donation rates. There was nearly universal agreement that implied consent (presumed consent) should not be tried. The use of financial incentives was not markedly opposed (some accepted the idea of funeral expense reimbursement), although there was not strong support either. In general, methods to increase organ donation had not been well thought out by either donors or nondonors indicating, perhaps, that the assumption of altruism or motivation is the best way to increase the donation rates.

8. Responsibilities of nurses in organ donation and transplantation

Organ and tissue transplant nurses need comprehensive and scientific knowledge. They include the evaluation and management of deceased donors, transplant recipients, potential donors or live donors, teaching and counseling of transplant recipients and live donors related to self-care management, healthy life and a peaceful death when this is imminent. This is important in order to improve the posttransplant quality of life.

Nurses have important role in the development of a successful transplantation program. They are key members of the team that works to deliver care to patients and relatives, through the use of technological, logistic and human resources, with a view to coordination, care, education and research on organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Therefore, the nurses need adequate knowledge on the principles of good ethical principles and should have resources available for them to assess patient’s risks and social issues related to organ transplants and donation. The researchers hope that the future studies will encourage further researches on the role and responsibilities of nurses.

9. Conclusion

The organ donation decision is a complex one, based strongly on personal beliefs. There are some factors, such as religious and cultural beliefs, that are seemingly intractable and are often cited as reasons for a refusal to donate. In this chapter, it is shown that these have often been found to be tied in with more complex issues such as a distrust of the medical system, misunderstandings about religious stances and ignorance about the donation process. Interventions to better engage the community, including disadvantaged and minority groups, to foster trust and provide information represent promising opportunities of promoting organ donation in the future.

Donor motives directly contribute to their decision to donate, is not uniform and is influenced by multiple factors. Majority of the donors were relationship oriented donor, whose major motives were desires to relieve the suffering & save the life of their loving ones. Creating awareness to the organ donation will directly influence the donor motives and willingness. By deriving the motives many more intervention to improve the willingness to be a living organ donor can be evolved. Recruitment of living donors represents a medical and moral responsibility. The possibility of organ removal from healthy donor to a recipient needs great inner motivation. Saving one’s life is divine.

The psycho social assessment must be made as a routine part of the nursing process. These assessments are meant to identify patients at risk for poor outcomes, provide guidelines for their management and improve the post-transplant quality of life [ 6 ]. “Because donated organs are a severely limited resource, the best potential, recipients should be identified. The probability of a good outcome must be highly emphasized to achieve the maximum benefit for all transplants” (OPTN/UNOS Ethics committee General Considerations in Assessment for Transplant Candidacy White paper-2010).

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• 27. Surman OS et al. Live organ donation: Social context, clinical encounter, and the psychology of communication. Psychosomatics. 2005; 46 :1-6
• 28. Papachristou C et al. Motivation for living-donor liver transplantation from the donor’s perspective: An in-depth qualitative research study. Transplantation. 2004; 78 :1506-1514
• 29. Haljamäe U. Remaining experiences of living kidney donors more than 3 yr after early recipient graft loss. Clinical Transplantation. 2003; 17 :503-510
• 30. Hamburger J, Crosnier J. Moral and ethical problems in transplantation. Rapaport F, Daussert J. Human Transplantation. NY: Grune & Stratton; 1968. pp. 68
• 31. Sadler HH et al. The living, genetically unrelated, kidney donor. Seminars in Psychiatry. 1971; 3 :86-101
• 32. Walter M et al. Psychosocial outcome of living donors after living donor liver transplantation: A pilot study. Clinical Transplantation. 2002; 16 :339-344
• 33. Fukunishi I et al. Psychiatric disorders before and after living-related transplantation. Psychosomatics. 2001; 42 (4):337-343
• 34. Crowley-Matoka M, Switzer G. Nondirected living donation: A survey of current trends and practices. Transplantation. 2005; 79 (5):515-519
• 35. Boparai J, Davila H, Chandalia M. Cardiovascular disease in Asian Indians living in the United States. Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports. 2011; 5 :240-245
• 36. Ji WR, Frederick B, Hsin CY. Trends in prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Asians Versus Whites results from the United States National Health Interview Survey 1997-2008. Diabetes Care. Feb 2011; 34 (2):353-357

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Essay on Organ Donation for Students and Children

500+ words essay on organ donation.

Essay on Organ Donation – Organ donation is a process in which a person willingly donates an organ of his body to another person. Furthermore, it is the process of allowing the removal of one’s organ for its transplanting in another person. Moreover, organ donation can legally take place by the consent of the donor when he is alive. Also, organ donation can also take place by the assent of the next of kin of a dead person. There has been a significant increase in organ donations due to the advancement of medical science.

Organ Donation in Different Countries

First of all, India follows the opt-in system regarding organ donation. Furthermore, any person wishing to donate an organ must fill a compulsory form. Most noteworthy, this form is available on the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. Also, The Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994, controls organ donation in India.

The need for organ donation in the United States is growing at a considerable rate. Furthermore, there has also been a significant rise in the number of organ donors in the United States. Most noteworthy, organ donation in the United States takes place only by the consent of the donor or their family. Nevertheless, plenty of organizations are pushing for opt-out organ donation

Within the European Union, the regulation of organ donation takes place by the member states. Furthermore, many European countries have some form of an opt-out system. Moreover, the most prominent opt-out systems are in Austria, Spain, and Belgium. In England, no consent is presumed and organ donation is a voluntary process.

Argentina is a country that has plenty of awareness regarding organ donation. Most noteworthy, the congress of Argentina introduced an opt-out organ donation policy. Moreover, this means that every person over 18 years of age will be a donor unless they or their family state their negative. However, in 2018, another law was passed by congress. Under the new law, the family requirement was removed. Consequently, this means that the organ donor is the only person who can state their negative.

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Benefits of Organ Donation

First of all, organ donation is very helpful for the grieving process. Furthermore, many donor families take relief and consolation due to organ donation. This is because they understand that their loved one has helped save the life of other people. Most noteworthy, a single donor can save up to eight lives.

Organ donation can also improve the quality of life of many people. An eye transplant could mean the ability to see again for a blind person. Similarly, donating organs could mean removing the depression and pain of others. Most noteworthy, organ donation could also remove the dependency on costly routine treatments.

Organ donation is significantly beneficial for medical science research. Donated organs offer an excellent tool for conducting scientific researches and experiments. Furthermore, many medical students can greatly benefit from these organs. Most noteworthy, beneficial medical discoveries could result due to organ donation. Organ donation would also contribute to the field of Biotechnology.

To sum it up, organ donation is a noble deed. Furthermore, it shows the contribution of an individual even after death. Most noteworthy, organ donation can save plenty of lives. Extensive awareness regarding organ donation must certainly be spread among the people.

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Benefits and risks of becoming a living organ donor

Please check out our Living Donation Guide for more information and resources.

Living Donation Benefits

For the recipient:.

• Quality of life: Transplants can greatly improve a recipient’s health and quality of life, allowing them to return to normal activities. They can spend more time with family and friends, be more physically active, and pursue their interests more fully.  
• Increased life span:  A kidney transplant dramatically increases the life span of a patient by about 10 years and improves their quality of life. Dialysis, while clearly a life-saving treatment, it is a less-than-perfect replacement for an actual human kidney. In addition, people who undergo a transplant will no longer require weekly dialysis treatments or have the side effects of dialysis such as nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, muscle cramping, and itchy skin.
• Shorter waiting time : Due to the lack of organs available for transplant, patients on the national transplant list often face long wait times (sometimes several years) before they are able to receive a transplant from a deceased donor. Patients who find a suitable living donor do not have to wait on the list.
• Better results : Transplant candidates generally have better results when they receive organs from living donors as compared to organs from deceased donors. Often, transplanted organs from living donors have greater longevity than those from deceased donors. Genetic matches between living donors and candidates may lessen the risk of rejection.
• Kidneys and Livers Function Almost Immediately : A kidney or liver from a living donor usually functions immediately in the recipient. In uncommon cases, some kidneys from deceased donors do not work immediately, and as a result, the patient may require dialysis until the kidney starts to function.

For the Living Donor:

• Positive emotional experiences: The gift of an organ can save the life of a transplant candidate. The experience of providing this special gift to a person in need can serve be a positive aspect of donation.
• More time with your loved one:  Donating an organ can increase the time you have to spend with your loved one as well as the quality of that time.

For Both the Recipient and the Living Donor:

• Flexible time frame : Surgery can be scheduled at a time that is convenient for both the donor and recipient.
• Removes a candidate from the list: A living donor removes a candidate from the national transplant waiting list, which is currently above 114,000 people. This allows the people on the waiting list who cannot find a living donor a better chance of receiving the gift of life from a deceased donor.
• Immediate impact:  The impact of a transplant is so striking that recipients often look noticeably healthier as soon as they emerge from surgery.

Living Donation Impacts/Risks

Living donation does not change life expectancy, and after recovery from the surgery, most donors go on to live happy, healthy, and active lives.

For kidney donors, the usual recovery time after the surgery is short, and donors can generally resume their normal home and working lives within two to six weeks. Liver donors typically need a minimum of two months to resume their normal home and working lives.

Although transplantation is highly successful, complications for the donor and recipient can arise. Make sure to check out common myths and concerns about living donation. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what to expect.

Effects on the Body

For living kidney donors, the remaining kidney will enlarge slightly to do the work that two healthy kidneys share. The liver has the ability to regenerate and regain full function. Lungs and pancreas do not regenerate, but donors usually do not experience problems with reduced function.

Risks to the Donor

As with any other surgery, there are both short and long term risks involved in living donation.  Surgical complications can include pain, infection, blood loss, blood clots, allergic reactions to anesthesia, pneumonia, injury to surrounding tissue or other organs, and even death.  As transplant surgeries are becoming more common and surgical techniques are advancing, risks involved with living donation continue to decrease.

There has been no national systematic long-term data collection on the risks associated with living organ donation. However, there are studies that are currently gathering such information. Based upon limited information that is currently available, overall risks are considered to be low. Risks can differ among donors and the type of organ.

For kidney donors, there is only a 1% lifetime increase in the donor’s own risk of kidney failure.  To put this into perspective, the general population has a 3% risk for kidney failure.  Overall, there is only a three in 10,000 risk of dying during surgery and  in general donation neither reduces life expectancy nor prevents donors from living normal, healthy lives. Some possible long-term risks of donating a kidney may include high blood pressure (hypertension); large amount of protein in the urine; hernia; organ impairment or failure that leads to the need for dialysis or transplantation.

Liver transplantation carries greater risk for both the donor and the recipient than kidney transplantation. Some possible long-term risks associated with donating a lobe of the liver may include wound infections; hernia; abdominal bleeding; bile leakage; narrowing of the bile duct; intestinal problems including blockages and tears; organ impairment or failure that leads to the need for transplantation.

Limited Long-Term Data about Living Donors

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) has limited long-term data available on how living donors do over time. Based on OPTN data from 1998 through 2007, of the 3,086 individuals who were living liver donors, at least four* have been listed for a liver transplant due to complications related to the donation surgery. Of the 59,075 individuals who were living kidney donors from 1998 to 2007, at least 11* have been listed for a kidney transplant. However, the medical problems that caused these kidney donors to be listed for transplant may or may not be connected to the donation.

*This total only captures data on transplant candidates who are known to the OPTN/UNOS to be previous donors.

Real Life Living Donor Heroes!

Chelsey donated a kidney to her college roommate, Ellen. Chelsey is now a 1+1=LIFE Mentorship  mentor and member of our Young Professionals Group (TLC). 

Steve donated a kidney to his daughter, Kelsey. He is now a Team Transplant cyclist and 1+1=LIFE Mentorship mentor . 

Keith (right) received the GIFT OF LIFE when he was given a kidney from his step-son Jonny (left). Keith is now a mentor in our 1+1=LIFE Mentorship Program . 

Other Considerations

Studies have shown that donating a kidney or part of the liver does not affect a woman’s ability to have children. However, it is important that you tell your doctors of your plans to have children. Each case is different, and your doctor may have additional recommendations given your medical history. A recent study from Toronto says that women who have donated a kidney are at higher risk of developing gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia during pregnancies that follow the donation. The study suggests the increase in risk is not enormous (about a 6% increase), and in fact most women who have donated a kidney can safely carry a pregnancy to term. More information about the study can be found here.

Police, Fire, and Military Service

Some police and fire departments or branches of the military will not accept individuals with only one kidney. Be sure to talk to your superior if you are considering becoming a living donor.              

Please note: As detailed in our Privacy Policy , the information contained on this site does NOT substitute medical advice. Please discuss any medical questions, considerations, and decisions with your doctor

Living organ donations are categorized in the following ways:

• Non-Directed Living Organ Donation
• Directed Living Organ donation

Living organ donors are usually between the ages of  18 and 60 year old . However, acceptable ages may vary by transplant center and the health of the donor candidate.

The prospective donor must have several points of compatibility including a compatible blood type , tissue type, and other markers.

The donor candidate is carefully evaluated by lab tests, physical examination, and psychological evaluation  to ensure that the candidate is healthy enough to donate and that he or she is making an informed decision. The decision about whether to accept the donor is then made by the health care team at the transplant center.

Please note: It is illegal to sell human organs for the purpose of transplantation. Federal law stipulates that no person may be paid and/or receive valuable consideration for donating an organ.

See  Living Donor Laws – Federal and State by State

Need support? Connect with a  Mentor .

See our  Living Donor Guide  for more information.

Other Living Donation Resources

The American Transplant Foundation (ATF) is the only 501 (c)(3) nonprofit in the country that provides three tiers of support for living donors, transplant recipients, and their families. We go beyond awareness by providing real help to patients who need it the most. Join us and be part of the community fighting for the lives of those on the transplant wait list.

Join our online community where you can share, reflect, connect.

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Donate Today! Honor a Loved One Potential Living Donor Database Download our Media Kit Legislation 1+1=LIFE Mentorship Program Join Save a Life Giving Club Fundraise Online Shop

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Organ Donation — Shortcomings and Benefits of Organ Donation

Shortcomings and Benefits of Organ Donation

• Categories: Organ Donation Surgery

About this sample

Words: 1088 |

Published: Jan 29, 2019

Words: 1088 | Pages: 2 | 6 min read

Table of contents

Advantages of organ donation, disadvantages of organ donation, works cited, social responsibility, helps the families of the deceased to overcome grief, imparts a new hope to live a fruitful life, provides material for medical research, complications during and after surgery.

• Anderson, L. (2015). Organ Donation: Opportunities for Action. John Wiley & Sons.
• Callender, C. O., & Sade, R. M. (Eds.). (2011). The Global Organ Shortage: Economic Causes, Human Consequences, Policy Responses. University of South Carolina Press.
• Caplan, A. L., McCartney, J. J., & Sisti, D. A. (2018). Health, Disease, and Illness: Concepts in Medicine. Georgetown University Press.
• Delmonico, F. L. (2011). Organ Transplantation: Ethical, Legal, and Psychosocial Aspects. John Wiley & Sons.
• Gordon, E. J., & Wolf, S. M. (2013). Donation in a Changing World: The Ethical Challenges. MIT Press.
• Gruessner, A. C., & Benedetti, E. (Eds.). (2019). Transplantation at a Glance. Wiley Blackwell.
• Hippen, B. (2012). Is Altruistic Organ Donation an Unjustified Gift? In S. J. Youngner, R. M. Arnold, & R. Shapiro (Eds.), The Definition of Death: Contemporary Controversies (pp. 95-107). Johns Hopkins University Press.
• Price, D. (2019). Organ Transplantation: A Clinical Guide. Cambridge University Press.
• Radcliffe-Richards, J., Daar, A. S., Guttmann, R. D., & Hoffenberg, R. (Eds.). (2014). The Case for the Living Donor. Routledge.

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Essay on Organ Donation

Students are often asked to write an essay on Organ Donation in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Organ Donation

What is organ donation.

Organ donation is when a person allows their organs to be given to someone who needs them after they die. The organs can be the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, or intestines. Giving an organ can save the life of someone with a sick organ that doesn’t work well.

Who Can Donate?

Almost anyone can be an organ donor. Adults and, with parent’s permission, children can choose to donate. Doctors check if the donor’s organs are healthy enough to be given to another person.

The Process of Donating

When a person dies, doctors see if they can donate. If yes, the organs are taken out carefully and quickly given to patients who need them. The donor’s family does not have to pay for this.

The Need for Donors

Many people are waiting for an organ, but there aren’t enough donors. More donors mean more people can get the help they need. It’s important to talk with your family about your choice to donate.

Organ donation is a kind act that can save lives. If you decide to be a donor, you could help someone else live a longer, healthier life after you’re gone.

Also check:

• Speech on Organ Donation

250 Words Essay on Organ Donation

Organ donation is when a person allows their organs to be given to someone else who needs them after they die. Sometimes, living people can also give one of their kidneys or a part of their liver to help another person.

Why is Organ Donation Important?

Organ donation is very important because it can save lives. Many people are sick with organs that do not work well, and they need new ones to become healthy again. Without new organs, these people might not live for very long.

Almost anyone can be an organ donor. It does not matter how old you are or what your background is. The most important thing is that the organs are healthy. Doctors check this very carefully before they put the organs into another person’s body.

How to Become a Donor

To become an organ donor, you can sign up on a special list or tell your family about your wish to donate. This way, if something happens to you, the doctors will know that you want to give your organs to help others.

Respect and Care

When organs are taken from a donor, doctors treat the donor with a lot of respect and care. The donor’s family is also given support during this tough time.

In summary, organ donation is a generous act that can give someone a second chance at life. It is a simple process to sign up, and it shows a big heart to help others in need.

500 Words Essay on Organ Donation

Organ donation is a kind act where a person allows their organs to be moved into another person’s body. When someone’s organ, like their heart or kidney, stops working well, they might need a new one. Organ donation is a way to give them a healthy organ. This can save their lives or help them feel better.

Almost anyone can choose to donate their organs. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what your background is. When a person decides to donate their organs, doctors will check to make sure the organs are healthy and can help someone else. There are two times when a person can donate: when they are still alive or after they pass away. Living people can donate parts of their liver, one kidney, or a piece of their lung. After a person dies, they can donate many organs if they said yes to donation before.

Organ donation is very important because it can save lives. Many people are waiting for an organ, and sometimes they have to wait a long time. Without a new organ, these people might not survive. By donating organs, you can help them live longer and enjoy life with their families and friends.

How Do You Become a Donor?

To become an organ donor, you need to tell others that you want to donate. You can do this by signing up on a special list or telling your family about your choice. It’s also a good idea to carry a card in your wallet that says you are a donor. This way, if something happens to you, doctors will know that you want to give your organs to help others.

The Process of Donation

If a person who wants to donate their organs passes away, doctors will check if their organs are still healthy. If they are, the organs are carefully taken out and kept in a special way so they stay healthy. Then, the organs are quickly taken to the person who needs them. Doctors will do an operation to put the new organ in the person’s body.

Concerns and Myths

Some people are worried about donating their organs. They might think that doctors won’t try to save their lives if they are donors, but this isn’t true. Doctors always work hard to save every person’s life. Another worry is about how the body will look after donation. The truth is, doctors are very careful, and the body will look the same as before.

Organ donation is a very special choice that can make a big difference in someone’s life. It’s a way to show kindness and help others even after you’re gone. By learning about organ donation and talking to your family, you can decide if it’s right for you. Remember, your choice to donate your organs could be the reason someone else gets to live a longer and happier life.

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Organ Donation Essay

Organ donation is a noble act of transplanting healthy organs from a donor to a patient receiver. Human body organs and tissues that function properly are collected and transplanted into patients’ bodies to save their lives. In most cases, organ donations are performed after the donor’s death. But some organs can be donated even when the donors are alive. Kids learning activities like organ donation essays will help them attain more scientific knowledge and better their academic performances.

Superheroes are not born; they are made by society. By participating in activities like organ donations, people can save lives and turn themselves into real superheroes. The following short essay in English on the necessity of performing organ donation in society will help kids improve their basic knowledge about the human body. BYJU’S importance of organ donation essay for kids will also help develop social consciousness and humanity in their minds.

Table of Contents

What is organ donation, necessity of organ donation in the society.

Organ donation can be defined as the process of transplanting an organ or tissue from one person to another person through surgical methods. The recipient performs the transplantation because of organ failure or damage caused by disease or injury. Organ donation marks the advancement of science in the medical sector.

People of all ages can perform organ donation. Organ donations are completely voluntary actions, and people cannot be compelled to engage in these activities. Illiteracy, lack of proper guidance, lack of awareness, the fright of surgery, etc., are some of the major reasons that stop a person from engaging in such charity practices. People hesitate to donate organs because of their misunderstandings related to organ donation procedures. Myths and misconceptions about organ donation have to be cleared from people’s minds. Teachers can direct their students to visit online resources like BYJU’S essay on health education to learn more about human health.

The kidney, eyes, liver, heart, skin tissues, small intestines, and lungs are some of the organs that people commonly donate. Participation in organ donation is a great form of charity and social service. It marks the contribution of individuals after death. We all should pledge to donate our organs to save lives and promote the importance of organ donation by participating in various campaigns.

World Organ Donation Day is observed annually on August 13. It is celebrated by people worldwide to raise awareness about the necessity of organ donation in society. The World Health Organisation and other health organisations conduct live classes on health-related topics to educate people. Essay writing activities on topics like the necessity of organ donation in society and organ donation essay are excellent tools for teaching the little ones about the process and importance of organ donations. For more essays, worksheets and stories , visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is organ donation.

Organ donation is the practice of surgically transplanting an organ or tissue from one person to another person.

When is World Organ Donation Day?

August 13 is observed as World Organ Donation Day.

What do children learn from BYJU’S organ donation essay?

BYJU’S organ donation essay provides an opportunity for kids to attain knowledge of the human organ system. Practising essay writing activities will help them perform well in their academics and score good marks.

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Benefits of Organ Donation Essay

The advancement in medical practices has had an incredible progress in saving human lives. Organ transplant is one of such medical innovations that give hope to millions of people through organ donation. Death is an inevitable factor of life that is imminent to each and every person around the globe. However, the prospect of death remains unknown and can often be tragic to some people. As a result, death is an unknown factor that instills the fear of dying in an individual or person. Terminal diseases and tragic accidents are some of the leading causes of deaths, in which they are invariably out of control. Therefore, it becomes a personal or family choice to offer life, the greatest gift to another person. In the aftermath, organ donation spares the lives of many and has truly become a gift that continues life for another even if it means the end of life for the donor. Nevertheless, healthy organs are not easy to get. According to 2017 US data, there were 122,000 people on the organ waiting lists (Flescher 34). Each organ has its own waiting list but with a common characteristic. There are far more people on the waiting list than there are donors. On average, 110 people are added on the organ waiting list daily while 21 die while on the organ donation waiting list (Flescher 36). With this note, organ donation is, therefore, an important medical breakthrough that has the potential to save thousands of lives. The aim of the paper is to analyze the benefits of organ donation while at the same time exploring the counterarguments and the ethical issues involved.

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Organ donation has the potential of saving thousands of lives. There are thousands of people on the organ donation waiting list and with one donor, eight lives can be saved. The human body has eight organs that can be donated and include the heart, 2 lungs, liver, pancreas, 2 kidneys, and small intestines. A donor who has reached the end of life, for instance through brain-death, heart failure or tragic accident has the potential of donating the organs for transplant to people in need of specific organs. Apart from organs, tissues such as the eyes, skin, bone marrow, bones (tendons and cartilages) can be donated to improve the lives of people in need. It is sad that 21 people die on a daily basis while waiting for an organ transplant because the supply of donors is limited while the demand for organs is on the rise (Flescher). Such people die because there is little medical practitioners can do to save their lives without available organ donors. However, with available donors, organs can be matched to those in need. Therefore, if one person's end of life means the sustenance of life for countless others, then it means that organ donation is very essential in life. Furthermore, the donation does not need to be in case of a critical clinical condition. Live donations have also been on the rise where people willingly consent to donate part of their organs to save their loved ones. In other cases, some people sign a medical consent form that is highly confidential stating that their organs should be donated upon their death (Healey 70). Such actions indicate that organ donation is fundamental in saving the lives of people in need. Therefore, organ donation saves lives by improving the quality of life. For instance, an organ transplant means some people do not need to go through the costly routine medical treatments to survive. In others tissue donation such as an eye means they gain the ability to see again and are relieved for pain.

Organ donation helps in the grieving process by offering consolation to a family. However, one of the greatest barriers to organ donation is the lack of family consent in countries across the world such as the US and UK. For instance, the family consent rate is 60% and 54% in the UK and US respectively (Chkhotua 1793). As such, approaching a family grieving the loss of a loved one, for instance in cases of brain-death, may require families to make hard decisions in distressing situations. Family consent is even worse in cases of conflict where there lacks rapport with healthcare institutions. For example, when the request for donation is ill-timed or when family members are dissatisfied with care. Nevertheless, in spite of such barriers, literature has found that organ donation provides family consolation. Even though it is difficult for family members to consent, they find joy in knowing that their loved ones help save the lives of others. In other words, they view it as the continuation of life in another person. Since a single donor can save up to eight lives, donating tissue could also improve the lives of 50 people (Healey 67). A family finds closure and consolation by knowing that the precious life of their loved one was not lost in vain. Furthermore, the donation process connects the bereaved family with individuals saved by the death of their loved one.

Organ donation provides a second chance to people waiting in the transplant list. These people are often on treatment plans that help increase their longevity in life. However, medical care and treatment is an expensive affair because people in critical conditions require constant hospital visits and even hospital admission. Through organ transplant, organs donated help such people to relatively live a normal life devoid of expensive medical treatments (Price & Freeman 58). Furthermore, organ donation is free and the medical cost of the transplant is solely on the recipient. In addition, through live donations, people have the opportunity to see first-hand, the lives of people they have impacted by becoming donors. Living donations are often in times when family members and close friends need an organ transplant. The generosity of organ donation helps other people to live life as they should have. According to biblical teachings, Jesus Christ stated that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Therefore, by extending a helping hand to people in need, through organ donation, restores humanity by extending human actions to the next generation. People given a second chance in life through an organ transplant remain grateful to the donor and wish them well and pray for their continued well-being (Price & Freeman 60). There is also joy by knowing that one positively affected the lives of another.

Organ donation is also beneficial to society due to its altruistic nature. Based on a utilitarian approach to altruism, society and medicine should put human remains to good use. The current scenario of burying and incinerating human bodies after death is an appalling waste of body organs and tissues that can restore health or life while thousands wait for months and even years to get a match for a donor (Aijing et al. 518). The current moral concern has been biased in that it focuses on the dead and their family and has not given a broader approach to recognizing the recipients of organ donation. With this note, organ donation is not only essential in restoring life but also fundamental in contributing to medical research. Some of the organs are not fit for transplant and should be donated to scientific research to aid in the understanding of human anatomy. In particular, donating for medical research is crucial in the comprehension of genetic conditions, diseases, and rarely seen illness (Aijing et al. 519) Therefore, people experiencing certain ailments can help others with the same conditions since medical technology is advancing and gene therapy in the future will help in transplants.

Measures should be placed to ensure constant demand and supply of donors because the demand of organs is greater than the pool of available. Governments and non-profit organization should carry out awareness campaigns to eliminate the existing myths about organ donation and transplant because the overall aim is improving human life. Most importantly, organ donation creates an opportunity to tackle human ailments that lead to loss of life. Life is precious and should be treasured by ensuring that people in dire need receive a transplant when required.

On the contrary, organ donation is also flawed and may extend the grieving period of a family. It is unfortunate that for an organ donation to be a success, the recipient may need an extended life support during a hospital stay. The extended period of recovery prolongs the grieving period because it provides a false sense of hope (Saidi). It is also important to note that organs are not donated unless a patient is pronounced as brain dead. The period of waiting for a donor family may also lead to conflict because they may feel as if the medical facility failed in their job. On the other hand, in the case of living donations, organ donation carries the risks of surgery, anesthesia, infection, and even possible short and long-term complications. Donors should take time while reading the consent form to ensure that they fully understand the consequences of their actions.

Even though it is argued that organ donation is free and the cost burden is transferred to the patient, living donations consume a lot of time and arranging for a donation can take months. The donor may experience time off work or being away to undergo pre-surgery testing, surgery, and recovery. These activities translate to lost income because one could be productive in fulfilling other duties at work. Furthermore, if the donor travels, lodging and travel expenses are not catered for by the recipient. Therefore, organ donation institutions should also consider indirect costs incurred by the donor instead of claiming that donation is free.

Organ donation has created a loophole for exploiting the poor and vulnerable in the society. Transplant tourism is on the rise spearheaded by wealthy westerners who visit countries in Asia, such as Pakistan where commercialization of organ donation is legal. According to a 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) report, 10% of worldwide organ transplant involved transplant tourism where the problem of international trafficking of human organs and tissues exist (Saidi 45). The travel for transplantation involves the movement of donors, organs, recipients and/or transplant professionals across geographic borders, widely renowned as transplant tourism. This form of tourism is different from medical tourism because it involves organ trafficking and commercialization. In the US, it is illegal to sell human organs. Unfortunately, there exist criminal elements or persons that exploit the vulnerable in the society to sell their organs due to poverty (Egendorf). Certain transactions are carried over the internet where donors and recipients can remain anonymous but they promote illegal activities. Unfortunately, transplant tourism prevents access or the availability of deceased organs to the destination country because wealthy tourists receive preferential care. Similarly, transplant tourism denies the development of live donations in the country of the recipient. For example, insurance companies would prefer to send organ recipients to countries such as Pakistan and Philippines where it costs less to carry out a transplant since the donors receive meager payments, an utmost exploitation (Saidi 70).

Likewise, in terms of safety and quality, all human organ transplants are associated with a potential risk to the recipient. The recipient is at risk of unsatisfactory organ function, and most lethal being disease transmission from the donor. Malignancy and infectious disease transmission is the most relevant demerit of organ donation (Egendorf 66). Medical errors could lead to wrong screening results because donors must be screened to know their health status. In some patients with the imminent risk of death, such risks may be acceptable as a better alternative to death, but it only leads to added medical expenditure on the s...

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Should Kidney Donors Be Paid?

A guest essay argued in favor of payments. Readers, including donors, offer divergent views.

To the Editor:

Re “ We Should Be Allowed to Sell Our Kidneys ,” by Dylan Walsh (Opinion guest essay, April 4):

I’ve seen firsthand how kidney transplants can transform the lives of patients living with debilitating renal disease who are often forced to spend hours each week in painful and exhausting dialysis treatments. Mr. Walsh is correct that we need to greatly boost the number of living organ donors. But before we consider paying people for their kidneys, we need to ensure that every potential donor has an equitable chance to also receive a lifesaving organ transplant.

Even though undocumented people can and do donate organs, far too many of the undocumented, Black and low-income clients we serve with severe renal disease are unable to receive treatment at transplant centers run by private hospitals, despite many of them being excellent medical candidates for a successful transplant.

It would be grossly unethical for our government to encourage them to sell their organs when they receive far less than an equitable share of needed organs.

There are many steps the federal and state governments can take to gather data on transplant equity and require tax-exempt health systems to provide fair and equitable access to transplant care, regardless of immigration or insurance status, income or race. We must create a fair system before we consider a market for organs.

Karina Albistegui Adler New York The writer is co-director of health justice for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

As president of the American Society of Transplantation, I know there is an extreme need for additional organs to support lifesaving organ transplantation. Dylan Walsh aptly describes the challenge.

We at the A.S.T. support the author’s intent to increase living donation. However, A.S.T. policy opposes direct remuneration for organs, as it would encourage donations for financial rather than altruistic reasons, thereby propagating disparities. Instead, we aim to remove disincentives that prevent living donors from providing a lifesaving gift.

The A.S.T. is advancing effective solutions. The Living Donor Protection Act , which ensures that life, disability and long-term care insurers cannot discriminate against living donors, has bipartisan support. Other legislation provides a one-time tax credit for living donors that would offset donors’ expenses without providing perverse incentives. The A.S.T. also encourages companies to offer paid leave for living donors through our Circle of Excellence initiative.

Living donors alone cannot meet demand. The A.S.T. is engaged in ongoing work with the Health Resources and Services Administration, patients and other stakeholders to optimize the existing system for deceased donor transplantation, maximize the use of all available organs and minimize non-use.

These activities, along with research on the best strategies to remove disincentives, will result in meaningful progress. Selling organs is not the answer we need now.

Josh Levitsky Chicago The writer is a professor of medicine, surgery and medical education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Five years ago I donated my left kidney to a stranger after seeing his flyer posted in Starbucks. I was not paid money for my efforts. Yet it was one of the most rewarding endeavors in my life. Throughout the process, I learned many of the lessons that Dylan Walsh discusses.

Even though it’s too late for me to benefit financially, I strongly support the idea of paying future donors. The criticism that rich, powerful people will take advantage of the poor or vulnerable is based on the incorrect assumption that it’s not a rational decision to incur personal risks for financial and other benefits.

It is legal for women to act as paid surrogates carrying a pregnancy that poses at least as many potential medical risks as the nephrectomy. Paying people for kidneys is no different.

As a social worker who has worked with vulnerable people for decades, I believe it’s possible to create safety protocols to ensure that no one is making a decision that is coerced or lacking proper informed consent. There is no better reward than the good feeling of saving a life. Paying someone to do it is just icing on the cake.

Catherine Pearlman Laguna Niguel, Calif.

Nineteen years ago, I donated a kidney to my younger sister with the hope she would live another 10 good years. She had 12 good years, two not so good, and died at the age of 63. I am now 72 and have no regrets, but I remain strongly opposed to the concept of selling kidneys.

The organ transplant community tells only half the story, which is that donors should expect to live well with just one kidney. The other half of the story is what might be involved in recuperating from major surgery. To those involved in physical labor, I would tell them to be prepared to lose your livelihood for up to a year. Sure, there will be anecdotes like “I was mowing my lawn a week later!” But for me, even months later, my children told me that I walked funny.

With a Ph.D. in ethics, I am well aware of the ongoing debate of autonomy versus paternalism on all kinds of subjects. It’s too simplistic to say, “People should be allowed the personal freedom to sell a kidney.” We live in a society that limits our choices in all kinds of ways and for good reason.

In this case, I don’t see the transplant community ever being fully transparent about all the consequences of making this choice, just as they weren’t with me.

Thomas P. Roberts Hillsborough, N.C.

Dylan Walsh’s essay struck a chord. I have failing kidneys, brought on by being one of the millions of Americans with diabetes. Now 75, I long ago made major changes relating to diet, weight and exercise. Unfortunately, my progressive chronic kidney disease refused to get better.

So many of those thousands of Americans who are on waiting lists are young people deserving of so much more life to live. With so few donor kidneys available even for them, at my age I’ve made the decision not to seek a donor kidney, not to add my name to the waiting list. It would not be fair for those who have yet to experience a full life to miss out because I was next in line.

Would I like more time to enjoy life, love, family, etc.? Of course. If Mr. Walsh’s piece gains traction, and one day there are donor kidneys aplenty, I look forward to changing my mind.

Esteban S. Corona, Calif. The writer’s full name is not being used to protect his medical privacy.

The essay by Dylan Walsh highlights the travesty of our kidney transplant program. We are allowed to sell our blood, serum, sperm or ova but not kidneys, which are in short supply.

In addition to Mr. Walsh’s suggestion I would add another: Trade a kidney to stay out of jail. If select first offenders were given the opportunity to avoid a prison sentence by donating a kidney, they would benefit immediately by avoiding incarceration.

Society would benefit from obtaining a young healthy kidney while avoiding the cost of prison sentences. The offender/donor would avoid the many negative aspects of imprisonment. The kidney donation will save the life of someone who might otherwise die of kidney failure.

The experience of saving a life might also contribute to the rehabilitation of a first offender.

Robert W. Morgan Vero Beach, Fla. The writer is an epidemiologist.