Types of Organ Donation: Types, Facts, After-Effects

Have you ever wondered how many lives can one save by donating the body organs?

Organ donation is apparently a deliberate choice of a person. Though usually people don’t affirm to the option and don’t go for donation either when they are alive or after death, there are innumerable those people too who are ready to donate & save the life. One person can save about NINE lives by donating the body organs. Isn’t it amazing that you can give a new life to a drowning person who carries very fewer chances to retain his life!

Let us know the facts about organ donation and its current scenario!

Demand for Organs Worldwide!

Organ disease is a massive public health issue. Every year thousands of people die because of the non-availability of organs worldwide and of course, these thousands of lives can be saved if organ donation picks up the pace. Organ donation is one of the noble deeds that one can ever do. It is truly a life-saving gift.

You must have heard the famous adage,

“Serving humanity is to serve God.”

However, self-centeredness has taken these ethics at bay and people are indulged in organ trafficking today. They don’t have any feelings for the donor and not even for the taker, their focus remains in earning money, excelling their business and nothing else.

Who can be a Donor?

There is always a shortage of organ donors. Most of the organs come from deceased donors. But do you know there are some organs you can donate as kidney, liver, part of the pancreas or lung by becoming a living donor? Yes while living, you can donate your organs without any sort of issue.

One can become an organ donor at any age whether he/she is a deceased donor or a living donor. Anyone who is younger than age 18 needs to have the consent of a parent or a guardian to donate organs. If you are healthy and not suffering from any disease like HIV, you are eligible to become an organ donor.

Types of Organ Donation!

There are two types of donations. Living donation and deceased donation, get the details here!

Living donation

There are also two types of living donation. One donation covers those who are family members of the taker and the other one covers altruistic living donors who choose to donate an organ to someone they don’t know and for the well-being of someone too. Here are the organs that one can donate:

• One of two kidneys: Nearly 100,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Do you know that the number of people waiting for kidneys is much more than the number of available kidneys? Humans have two kidneys and can live a healthy life with just one. By being a kidney donor you can give a gift of life.
• Part of the pancreas: All Pancreas transplants are done to treat type one diabetes. By donating part of the Pancreas, one can save a diabetic patient’s life.
• Part of a lung: There are more people in need of a transplant than there are deceased donors. Lung donors can become lifesaving and life-giving to lung recipients.
• One of two slobs of the liver: In India, more than one lakh people die of liver disease while just 1,000 get a liver transplant and for some patients, lung treatment remains the only option. A human can live with just one healthy liver. In the U.S., 14,000 people are waiting for a new liver and imagine how many will be waiting worldwide.
• Part of the intestines: You will be surprised to know that it is also possible for a living donor to donate the intestine segment. Your small effort of donation can transform the life of someone waiting for an organ transplant.

Deceased Donation

A deceased donor can donate the whole body if death is a natural death. The parts that can be donated are heart, bones, cartilage, eyes and all. Donors for heart transplants are individuals who may have recently died or become brain dead, and their healthier heart is replaced with a failing or diseased heart. Thousands of people are on the transplant waiting list for a donor’s heart. A deceased donor can provide the gift of life to heart recipients. Besides eyes can also be donated and that deceased person can illuminate the dark life of a blind one.

Why is Organ Donation So Important? How Many Lives Can You Save with Organ Donation?

Every day 20 people die because of a lack of available organs for transplant. More than millions of people in the whole world are currently on the waiting list for an organ transplant. Human has the power to save the lives of those who are in need of any form of transplant. One single deceased donor may save up to 9 people.

Organizations working Tirelessly towards Organ Donation!

There are some organizations named are Local Organ Procurement Organization, National Donation Organization, Dera Sacha Sauda, MOHAN Foundation, DORSO that are working actively to promote organ donation.

A recent case has come to limelight from Dera Sacha Sauda, wherein one of their devotees donated her liver to her father who was suffering from Liver Cirrhosis. She deliberately came forward and donated her liver. It’s worth to mention this current & live example because, in these situations, the family members don’t even think to give their parts to their near ones. They start searching for a donor outside. But this girl didn’t think for a second and saved her father’s life, this courage is really undeniable. She is giving the whole credit to Dera chief for infusing endless courage to serve anyone in pain.

Rare but real!

Risks Associated with Living Donor!

Surgical treatments are associated with short term and long term risks. However, the advancement in technologies and more transplant surgeries, the risks are alleviating considerably. Now the donor doesn’t face many issues after surgery.

Myths and Misconceptions!

Myths and misunderstanding are the main reasons for the donor shortage. Rumors, misconceptions deter people from becoming donors.

• Most people don’t have knowledge about which organs can be donated? A living donor has the power to donate organs like kidney, liver, lungs, part of the pancreas and intestine and lungs. And the whole body of a deceased donor is worthwhile.
• It is also a false rumor that one can’t live a healthy life after donating organs. Nutrient-rich foods help to maintain the organ donor’s life healthy.
• One More misconception about it is by donating organ donors’ bodies can be disfigured. But nothing happens like that.
• Some people think they will die after the donation of organs. However, it was proved to be wrong. An organ donor can live a healthy life and also becomes a lifesaver for the recipient.

Insight of the black Marketing of organs

Increasing demand for organs fuelling the desire of some people to trade and sell organs. At present, the black market for organs becoming more prevalent. It is also known as red marketing. The buying and selling of organs are illegal in most countries. Iran is the only country in the world where buying and selling of organs are legal but this exception only applies to its citizens.

World Health Organization reveals the surprising rise in illegal trade of kidneys. As per estimations every year about 10,000 black market operations are conducted that involve purchasing human organs in an illegal way. WHO states that an organ is sold every hour, every day of the year.

Organ trafficking is thought to be most prevalent in Israel, India, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Brazil, Nepal, Iran, The Philippines. The illegal trade of all organs generates between US$840 Million and $1.7 Billion annually.

This is the worst!

Is There Any Solution to Stop Organ Trafficking?

The best solutions to stop organ trafficking are:

• Developing better systems of deceased organ donation
• Implementing laws that prohibit organ trading
• Spreading awareness regarding organ donation
• Promoting awareness camps worldwide

Donation of organs is praiseworthy work and one can serve humanity while living and even after death. Organ donation is a ray of hope for others. Awareness regarding it should prevail all around so that nobody can die due to the unavailability of organs.

Stay aware, donate organs and become a real hero of someone!

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