Premium Essay

Organ Donation: Why We Should Give the Gift of Life

In:

Submitted By jbarrycox
Words 1538
Pages 7
Organ Donation: Why We Should Give the Gift of Life

To give or not to give? That is the question. Give the gift that continues to give. Organ donation is the gift of life; however, there are many elements such as family, religion, and the public’s attitudes that are influential to the decision making of organ donation. Therefore, it is essential to complete a donor card, mark your driver’s license and share your decision with your family to become an organ donor, so you may give others a chance to enjoy a lifetime. Now, imagine that a loved one has just been in a car accident and is severely injured. The injuries are internal, some broken bones, but mainly, they have lost a significant amount of blood, which they are in desperate need of. Fortunately your blood types match. Picture yourself in the hospital waiting room, awaiting an update from the doctors on your loved one, hoping that they will survive. What would you say when the doctor approaches you and tells you that in order to save your loved one’s life, you must donate! Now, hold that thought, let’s change the scenario slightly. You were also in the car; however you were not as lucky as your loved one. You are now a victim taken by the car crash. Wouldn’t you still hope to save your loved one’s life as your last wish? Would you give any organ necessary for your loved one’s survival? Your heart? Your kidneys? Your liver? It’s a matter of life and death! If you had elected on your driver’s license to be an organ donor or carried a uniform donor card to communicate your decision to be an organ donor, your loved one’s life could have been saved. Transplantation is one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of medicine. But despite continuing advances in medicine and technology, the need for organs and tissue is vastly greater than the number available for transplantation. Each day, an average

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Discussion

...Becoming an Organ/Tissue Donor In Order To Save Lives I. Introduction A. Can you imagine being in a waitlist of around 79,000 people because you are in need of an organ transplant and just having to sit down and debate in your thoughts on whether you are going to make it or not because you are in an infinite list where you don’t know if there are sufficient donors or not? B. Today, I will be describing to you the pain and worry thousands of U.S. patients on the transplant waiting list go through and explain how by donating your organs this could change and make a difference. C. After learning the number of people who die per day because of the excessive waiting list and insufficient number of donors for all these people, I researched the topic extensively. D. While you, your friends, and/or family members and loved ones may not be in the necessity of an organ transplant as of right now, imagine one of you in the need of one in the near or far future and being among those 79,000 waitlisted people, wouldn’t you want to help or be helped by those good hearted people that decided to donate and pass you the gift of life? E. Preview: Today I’ll explain why we should all become organ donors after our death by 1. outlining the problems in current insufficient organ donations; 2. explaining how by donating your organs, thousands of lives can be saved; 3. and describing what will happen in the future if we do not encourage each other to become donors. II. Body A. There are...

Words: 1772 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Flour for Your Grave

...Organ donation 1. Write a summary of “I am donating my kidney to a stranger” (text 3) in about 150 words. The text main character is Paula MacKinnon and lives in Scotland. The text is about MacKinnon and how she had donated a kidney to a stranger, which is called altruistic. Her parents and her friends think that she is being foolish and they are worried about her. She knows that it is just because they care about her and that’s why they are trying to talk her out of it. The only person who is fine with all of this is her husband Colin. After all she is still donating her kidney to a stranger. It all began last year when her mother, Katherine 68-year-old, suffered from kidney failure. MacKinnon wants to donate her kidney but their bloods group was not compatible. So then Mackinnon realised when she could not do it for her mother then she could just as well give her kidney to another who needs it more than her. But even if she is a caring person and will give her kidney to a stranger, she will only do if its not doing any harm to herself. But this operation has minimal risks. 2. Give an outline of the various attitudes to organ donation in text 1, 2 and 3. In Denis Campbell´s article, Campbell focuses on the desperate need of a new organ donation system in Britain. People are dying because of the shortage. Campbell also thinks that UK should adopt the “Presumed consent” system, which always exists in many European countries. Robert D. Truog outlines the ethical...

Words: 1003 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Organ Donation

...Organ Donation Organ donation is a topic which contains many conflicting views. To some of the public population organ donation is a genuine way of saving the life of another, to some it is mistrusted and to others it is not fully understood. There are some techniques that can be used to increase donation. Of these techniques the most crucial would be being educated. If the life threatening and the critical shortage of organs were fully understood by the public, organ donation would more likely be on the rise. An effort is needed throughout the world to make people aware of the benefits this process contains. With communication, technology, and donors, organ donation can improve a person’s outlook on life by giving them a second chance on their own. (Egendorf 110-115) Technology has improved organ donation so much in the last couple years. There are numerous benefits of becoming an organ donor. Becoming an organ donor is one of the most selfless acts that a person can engage in. The facts on organ donation are staggering: there is an extreme shortage of available organs for patients that are in need. Understanding what organs can be donated can be vital in becoming an organ donor, as well as other factors’ including how being an organ donor affects the recipient who is eligible for donation. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, every day 19 people die who are waiting for organ transplants due to a shortage. (Holmes) The benefits of organ donation are...

Words: 3369 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Becoming and Organ Donor

...Become an Organ Donor Marylou Schreiner COMM/215 January 13, 2014 Ruth Palumbo Become an Organ Donor The New Year is here and it’s the time of year full of cheer, love, gift giving, and resolutions. Why not consider the resolution of giving the gift of life by becoming an organ donor? According to the Mayo Clinic, “over 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for an organ donation. (Mayo Clinic 2013).In fact, the latest number from UNOS is 120,860. In additions eighteen people will die every day waiting for the life saving organ to come. They will never receive the call stating, “we found a match.” The call that can that give them a second chance at life. Most of us don’t think about what happens to the body after you die. It is a sensitive subject matter people prefer not to think about, let alone discuss with their families and friends. However, everyone should take the time to discuss the importance of, “how can I help others if I were to die? Various questions should be asked: Why should I donate my organs? What are the benefits? Are there any reasons not to? What happens to me? These are excellent questions that can be answered by viewing the OrganDonor.gov website. Many people do not think about signing a donor card because of the many myths surrounding organ transplant and tissue donation. Most of these myths are not true and are based on fear. Some of these fears include: the hospital staff won’t work as hard to save my life, maybe I won’t...

Words: 868 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Organ Donation Shortage- Problem-Solution Essay

...Organ donation shortage Organ donation shortage When receiving a driver’s license in the United States, there is a section on the back in which it asks if the licensed driver would like to become an organ donor. Most people overlook this option. Nothing is really pushed forth for people wanting to become organ donors. Today in the U.S, thousands of people need organ transplants. Unfortunately, there is a growing shortage of donated organs. Many people die every year because there are not enough organs ready for transplant. Resulting, there is an extremely long waiting list of people hoping that they will be the next ones to get called to receive an organ. For a lot of those people, they die waiting on that list. If more people would become donors, there would be a lot more organs available for the ones in need. There have been many ideas on how to solve this problem. Rather it being an organ donor to receive an organ, some sort of point system, or financial incentives. (Calne, 2010) Offering financial incentives to potential organ donors, would solve the organ donation shortage in America. Organ transplantation started in the mid- 1950’s with a kidney transplant between identical twins. After the successful operation, it started the idea of widespread organ donation between two participants (Calne, 2010). Today, a living volunteer can donate a kidney, half of a liver or even a lobe of a lung (Calne, 2010). The process starts by one of two ways. If the person is donating...

Words: 2588 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Persuasive Speech

...Name: Institution: Date: Title: Organ Donation – the life saver. Topic: Most of the times people face challenges with their body organs and yet most of us die with our organs which can be used to save a life. Purpose statement: to persuade the Red Cross club members in becoming organ donors and to act upon their decision to donate. I. INTRODUCTION A. Attention Getter: What is the feeling of having to wait long for something that you really need? How do you feel when it’s something you can’t do without? Many years back, one of my best friends in primary school was diagnosed with a kidney failure. He was around seven years when the wait for a new kidney began. Two years later, he had been called thrice informing him that there was still no match for him. Fortunately for him, a young adult involved in a bad accident agreed to donate his organs after death. His kidney was the match that my friend needed. Similarly, most people would want to be able to say that they have saved a life? What other selfless way than becoming an organ donor? B. Tie to the audience: You never know whether one of the people on the waiting list would be you or somebody you know. C. Thesis statement: There is a growing need for organ donors and it is becoming a donor after death is a lifesaving decision. D. Thesis and Preview: I’d like to talk to you about the need for organ donors, how to become one after death and how it benefits both your family and the organ recipients. However, there are...

Words: 2522 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

Organ Donation

...Organ Donation 1. ”I’m donating my kidney to a stranger” is an article written by journalist Richard Wilson in 2008. The article is about Paula MacKinnon, who is thought to be the first altruistic organ donor in Scotland. Paula’s mother, Katherine, suffered kidney failure in 2007, and Paula wanted to donate her kidney to her mother. However their blood groups weren’t compatible, so Paula decided to donate her kidney anyway, to whoever might need it. Neither of Paula’s parents was particularly fond of this idea, but Paula is the kind of person, who will help anyone in need. Paula’s husband, Colin, understands why she is donating her kidney. They are both BBC journalists and highly involved in charity. Colin worked on a programme about orphaned children in Ukraine in 2006, and Paula went there to help for three months. 2. The first text, “We must change the organ donation system” by Denis Campbell, describes (as the title implies) how Britain needs an update of their organ donation system. Three people die in Britain every day, due to shortage of organs, so his solution would be to adopt the “presumed content” system, just like many other European countries have done. The presumed content system allows surgeons to retrieve the organs of a dead citizen, unless said citizen has already refused permission for them to do so, or if their family members object. The second text, “The Ethics of Organ Donation by Living Donors” by Robert D. Truog, describes three categories...

Words: 835 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Analysis Ryan's Hope

... Mrs. Suavengco Andrea Cayamanda Eon Cabiles Characters Ryan Doige -He was a happy, active 10-year-old boy who had a full life; baseball, tae-kwon-do and scouts. A few weeks before he passed away his parents Nancy Lee Doige and her husband Dale had an important conversation with their son; two weeks later, a parents’ worst nightmare, they found themselves at the hospital donating their son Ryan’s organs. He’s only 10 years old when his gift of life transformed other less fortunate people. Ten years old and he wanted to spread the word of organ awareness. He thought it was an amazing idea that people who were seriously sick could be saved after someone had passed away. At his young age he understood the important of life. He idolized Albert Einstein. He said that wants to be like God. Nancy Lee Doige (Mother) - She is a good mother that helps her child set out on their own path. Allowing the child to follow that path, regardless of the mother’s desires. Yet at the same time being there for the child to fall back on when that path seems too hard to follow. Although nothing could take away the pain she even took comfort and peace in knowing that Ryan, his son, had done something most of us will never do. She’s a strong woman that can handle all the pain and trying to start a new chapter of her life without her son. Dale Doige (Father) -He didn’t want to show his grief in front of her wife for fear making it worse to her. What is important to...

Words: 1487 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Organ Donation

...Pro’s and con’s of organ donation -Theis TEXT 1: We must change the organ donation system – An article written by Denis Campbell, published in The Guardian News. The narrator Denis Campbell stays very neutral to the issue throughout the whole article and he only seems interested in knowing other peoples opinion. As a result of such he interviewed two different persons and had their opinion on the matter. Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer in England – States that he wants the current system switched in the UK. He, among many people in the UK thinks change is overdue. The current system for organ donation in the UK have an opt-in system that only allows retrieving of organs from citizens who either have a donor card or are signed up in the Organ Donor Register. He would like the whole policy of organ donation to change into what’s known as presumed consent which allows the retrieving of organs from all citizens after their death that haven’t already, before death, refused permission for that to happen. His argument for the system change lies within the massive organs that are wasted. The organs of all the citizens who haven’t got a donor card or are registered for donation will be wasted because they simply didn’t care about organ donation. By changing the system no dead citizen or his/hers family will get upset and organ donation will be possible for a way larger group than now. Natalie Sillince – Explains how the current system forced a very unpleasant and...

Words: 1271 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Organ Donor

...Have you ever think about death? If you have the ability to save someone’s life, without sacrificing anything, would you do it? There are more than 150,000 people die in Australia every year. Most of them were died for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, injury and respiratory diseases. Also, at this moment in Australia there are 79,000 patients on the transplant waiting list. Each day more than 100 people are added to the national transplant waiting list and 17 people die unnecessarily simply because the organ they need is not available. This is a crisis and it has a cure. Almost everyone has the power to save their live, including you and me. Imagine that for the past 5 years you have been to hospital 3 times a week for dialysis, the only thing can help you at this point is a new kidney, because the dialysis is not a lifetime solution. Think about how frustrating and anxious you might be to live a life waiting for a organ transplant that could be much more easily if a great amount of people donate it. After a transplant of a vital organ, the average survival rate is over 80%. A massive increase from the 20% that would live without the surgery. With medical breakthroughs, and a organ and tissue donation, you can help save the live of many people all over the world. One person who donates organs (hearts, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and intestines) can save up to ten lives, while a tissue donor (corneas, bone, skin, heart valves, tendons, veins, etc.) can improve 12 or more...

Words: 651 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Compensating Kidney Donors

...Organ Donation: Legalizing Human Kidney Sales The process of organ donation has existed for many years and throughout that time the system has endured controversies and changes. One of those changes occurred in the late 1960s when the development of immunosuppressive drugs made it possible for people to donate organs to patients who were not related to them (Fentiman 43). This discovery benefited many patients in need of a transplant, but also opened the door to controversies such as organ sales. The first proposal to sell organs came from Virginia physician Dr. H. Barry Jacobs in 1983. He suggested that whoever could afford to buy a kidney should be allowed to do so. As a result of Dr. Jacobs’s proposal, Congress banned the sale of organs in 1984, and that law still exists today (Meckler A.1). Another change in organ donation happened in 1968, when the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act was introduced. This tried to increase the donor pool and make donating a person’s organs at his or her time of death easier. The act, however, did not raise the donation pool enough to keep up with the organ transplant waiting list (Fentiman 43). The waiting list is the topic of another controversy that has been occurring for several years and still exists today. Currently, there are 98,010 people on the waiting list, and 74,260 of those people are waiting for a kidney transplant (Alexander A1; “Paying Donors . . . ” 8A). Chelsea Lopez is one of those patients hoping to receive that life-saving donation...

Words: 2567 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Organ Donation Persuasive Essay

...Why should someone donate their body to science, subjecting themselves to potential dissections or car crashes and so much more? What purpose is there to willingly allow one’s body to be disrespected? Those are potential questions one against body donations might pose, but I argue differently. Upon death, the cadaver is no longer the person once inhabiting the body. Experimenting or dissecting the cadaver for the betterment of mankind will not hurt them in any way and is not a sign of disrespect towards the person. If I did not qualify for organ donation, I personally would donate my body to science in order to better mankind, as my cadaver otherwise would have no purpose and as I do not perceive a cadaver as the person it once was. A dead, non-motile body has only a few options: rotting in the ground, lying uselessly in ashes in an urn, other methods of burial or...

Words: 772 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Organ Transplant

...Organ Transplant in the United States Stephanie Daniels UCA Certificate of Authorship I hereby certify that I am the author of this document and any assistance I received in preparing this report is fully acknowledged. I have also cited in APA format all sources of data, data analysis, ideas, words, phrases, or sentences. I also hereby certify that I have not submitted this paper to any other professor, at Webster University or elsewhere, during the course of my educational career. I have properly cited and acknowledged material that was presented in previous papers of my authorship. Signature: __________________________________________________ Date: __________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page # Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………3 Organ Transplant…………………………………………………………………………..4 What Organs and Tissues Can Be Donated……………………………………………….6 Organ Transplant Cost…………………………………………………………………….10 Ethical Issues: Organ Transplant…………………………………………………………..11 Strength and Weaknesses……………………………………………………………….....14 Alternatives and Key Challenges: Organ/Tissue Transplant……………………………...15 Summary and recommendations…………………………………………………………...17 References…………………………………………………………………………………19 Abstract Organ transplant experiments began in the 1800’s on animals and humans as a need...

Words: 4065 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

How Has Christianity Become an in-Depth Religion

...JV12293 Christianity is a living dynamic religion that gives depth and meaning to the lives of the individuals and the wider community who follow its teachings. This can be seen through the practice of initiation through Baptism, the ethical teachings which are supported by sacred texts and the example of Jesus Christ, this is further enhanced through the development of Feminism to bring about greater equality within the church. ! Throughout the development of Christianity an immense change in its beliefs, doctrines and practices has arisen. A notable impact on Christianity has been made by Feminist theologians as they strive to procure a voice and input for women within religious movements and traditions to which they belong to (Buckley, Amy, 2014). The aim for Christian feminists is to accelerate the equality between women and men spiritually, morally, and socially. It has been occurrent and more prevalent of feminists defending and fighting for their rights within religion over time trying to attain their eminent goals (Wikipedia, 2015). The goals that are sought to be achieved within feminist theology comprise of language within the sacred texts (e.g bible) to be gender inclusive, expanding the status of women and allowing them to be of religious authority, in addition to equality in general (ChristianityToday.com, 2015). Feminists within Christianity have worked towards altering the view that many have power and control over them to grant them coequality ...

Words: 1479 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Marketing Plan of Warwick

...Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick Marketing Plan Terry Babbage 2008 1 CONTENTS Part One: Summary of main recommendations………………………………3 Part Two: Marketing St Mary’s: the current position………………………..5 The product………………………………………………………………………..5 Unique selling point…………………………………………………..………….6 Current marketing activity………………………………..………………………6 Charging policy…………………………………………………………..………7 SWOT analysis……………………………………………………………………8 Tourism sites in Warwick…………………………………………………………9 Tourism organisations…………………………………………………………….9 Local websites…………………………………………………………………….11 Part Three: Proposed actions……………………………………………..……12 Internal communications and report structure…………………………………….12 Gift Aid……………………………………………………………………………12 Church layout…………………………………………………………..…………13 Charging policy options…………………………………………………………...14 Advertising options………………………………………………………………..16 The Shop…………………………………………………..………………………17 Website…………………………………………………………………………….18 Visitor makeup…………………………………………………………………….19 Guiding and group visits…………………………………………………………..20 Appendix: Statistics……………………………………………………………,,,21 2 PART ONE : SUMMARY OF MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS This report has developed from the growing awareness that St Mary’s finance were not as healthy as they once were, and that action needed to be taken, fairly urgently, to maximise income. Terry Babbage has compiled this Plan, working closely with Jayne McHale and Clive Black. It is envisaged that they will continue to oversee its implementation...

Words: 8377 - Pages: 34