In this country, last year there were 5,617 kidney transplants from living donors. Although donors have increased, there are twice as many people being added to the waiting list every year, compared with 20 years ago.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a recent surprising survey found that nearly half of all Americans would consider donating a kidney to a total stranger. The clinic has developed an online form for those who might be interested in donating. Dr. Phil Fischer, a Mayo pediatrician made an anonymous donation, which allowed a grandmother to live a full life.
There are many myths about donations; here are the facts:
Myth: If I agree to donate my organs, the hospital won't work as hard to save my life.
Fact: When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors focus on saving your life not somebody else's. You'll be seen by a doctor whose specialty most closely matches your particular emergency.
Myth: Organ donation is against my religion.
Fact: Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most major religions. This includes Roman Catholicism, Islam, most branches of Judaism and most Protestant faiths. If you're unsure of or uncomfortable with your faith's position on donation, ask whomever leads your clergy.
Myth: An open‑casket funeral isn't an option for people who have donated organs or tissues.
Fact: Organ and tissue donation doesn't interfere with having an open‑casket funeral. The donor's body is clothed for burial, so there are no visible signs of organ or tissue donation. For bone donation, a rod is inserted where bone is removed. With skin donation, a very thin layer of skin similar to a sunburn peel is taken from the donor's back. Because the donor is clothed and lying on his or her back in the casket, no one can see any difference.
Myth: I'm probably too old to donate. Nobody would want my organs.
Fact: There's no defined cutoff age for donating organs. The decision to use your organs is based on strict medical criteria, not age. Don't disqualify yourself prematurely. Let the doctors decide at your time of death whether your organs and tissues are suitable for transplantation.
Myth: I'm 60 years old and not in the best of health. Nobody would want my organs or tissues.
Fact: Few medical conditions automatically disqualify you from donating organs. The decision to use an organ is based on medical criteria. It may turn out that certain organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other organs and tissues may be. Don't disqualify yourself prematurely. Only medical professionals at the time of your death can determine whether your organs are fit for transplantation.
Myth: I'd like to donate one of my kidneys now, but I wouldn't be allowed to do that unless one of my family members is in need.
Fact: That used to be the case; it isn't any longer. Whether it's a distant family member, friend or stranger you want to help, you can donate a kidney through certain transplant centers. If you decide to become a living donor, you will undergo extensive questioning to ensure that you are aware of the risks and that your decision to donate isn't based on financial gain. You will also undergo testing to determine if your kidneys are in good shape and whether you can live a healthy life with just one kidney.
Myth: Rich and famous people go to the top of the list when they need a donor organ.
Fact: The rich and famous aren't given priority when it comes to allocating organs. It may seem that way because of the amount of publicity when celebrities get a transplant, but they are treated no differently from anyone else. Celebrity and financial status are not considered in organ allocation.
Myth: My family or I will be charged if I donate my organs.
Fact: The organ donor's family is never charged for the organ donation. The family is charged for the cost of all final efforts to save your life, and those costs are sometimes misinterpreted as costs related to organ donation. Costs for organ removal are paid by the transplant recipient.
Tait Trussell is an old guy and fourth-generation professional journalist who writes extensively about aging issues among a myriad of diverse topics.