How To Get Involved: “Live Life. Pass it On” Organ Donation Registration Drive
Abstract
High mortality rates attributed to organ and tissue dysfunction are a globally recognized issue. Organ and tissue transplantation is a cost effective and life saving treatment for patients with organ failure. Unfortunately, there is a large recognizable gap between the need for and supply of donor organs. Studies show that misinformation about organ donation significantly limit donation consent rates. Awareness initiatives such as organ donation registration drives assist in both recruiting donors and educating the public about common misconceptions surrounding the transplantation of organs and tissue. Factors which influence willingness to consent …show more content…
Nevertheless, over the years researchers have successfully transformed organ surgery from a risky operation to a routine treatment choice for patients with end-stage organ disease (“Organ Donation - NIH News in Health, March 2011,” n.d.). Often referred to as the ‘gift of life’, organ and tissue transplantation is a cost effective and life saving treatment for patients with organ failure. Unfortunately, there is a large distinguishable gap between the need for and supply of donor organs. Low rates of organ donation can be attributed to a multitude of reasons. According to Dejong et al., these reasons include poor timing, poor phrasing of the donation request, lack of knowledge among family members about the deceased’s wishes, failure to ask patients’ families to grant consent, religious/cultural beliefs, and public ignorance regarding the concept of death (1998). Awareness initiatives such as organ donation drives assist in both recruiting donors and educating the public regarding common misconceptions surrounding the transplantation of organs and …show more content…
While many families have some knowledge regarding organ donation, the vast majority rely on preconceived attitudes when making this life changing decision (Siminoff, Gordon, Hewlett & Arnold, 2001). The media is often responsible for indirectly reinforcing misconceptions concerning organ donation. Misperceptions spread via nonmedical sources include: organs will be removed before the patient is officially declared dead, a death declaration will be made prematurely, there will be severe body disfigurement following organ procurement, there is a possibility for recovery from brain death, doctors will maintain persons on life support for “too long” for the purpose convenient organ harvesting, donors will compromise their own medical care once they are declared potential donors, and organs from persons of advanced age are undesirable for transplant (Radecki & Jaccard, 1997). In a time when the demand for organs continues to dwarf the supply, it is imperative that these myths be debunked by education that will highlight the positive aspects of donation and ultimately result in a greater willingness to donate amongst families approached about