How do you sign up? How does your death affect which organs are harvested?
2007-01-13 15:23:17 · 9 answers · asked by The Killer is Me 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
There are many requirements, such as heart conditions, kidney functions, obesity/underweight, etc. Also, most people do not realize that in order to donate vital organs you must be alive and on life support ( donors are brain dead but kept alive via artificial means until the harvesting is done). Once the harvesting is complete, they take you off life support and you die officially. Only 3% of the population dies in a manner wherein they are able to donate vital organs (i.e. car accidents, drug OD's) Most people simply die at home, nursing home or hospital and are unable to donate vital organs. They can, however, donate skin. tissue and bone. But in order to donate vital organs (heart, liver, lungs, kidneys), you must be brain dead yet alive because once you die, your cells die and that makes the organs useless to another human. You can have the donor symbol or designation put on your drivers licensed and /or you can fill out a donor card to carry with you. Hope this helped some.
2007-01-13 16:18:49 · answer #1 · answered by Reagan 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
First of all, good for you on wanting to be an organ donor! The first step is signing up to be a donor, usually you check a box on your driver's license. I think in some states, you have to be over 18 or get parental consent to be a donor (check with the DMV when you sign up, I could be entirely wrong). When you have an accident and are pronounced brain-dead, they harvest the organs while you are on life support. If the accident caused damage to an organ, they won't take that organ (ie, if you're stabbed in the kidney). If you are on certain medications that can cause damage to your organs, then you cannot be an organ donor. For example, my mom takes anti-depressants that could damage her liver, and she can't be an organ donor. Also, if you are old or overweight and it has caused damage to your organs, they won't take them. If you've done certain street drugs, or had any disease of your vital organs, they're considered unusable.
I understand the process to be very similiar to donating blood, except you must be close upon death. But, the criteria are similar.
2007-01-20 11:09:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make Your Wish to be an Organ Donor Known
Declare your wish on your driver's license.
Join the donor registry if your state has one.
Include donation in your advance directives, will, and living will.
Tell your family. They can be your advocate should you become a donor candidate.
Tell your physician, faith leader, and friends.
Complete a donor card and carry it in your wallet.
Get Your Donor Card
http://www.organdonor.gov/
This site can answer your questions.
2007-01-21 22:54:49 · answer #3 · answered by wwhrd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The most important thing is to make sure your immediate family knows that you want to do this. You can complete a form, available at most hospitals. Go to www.donatelife.net. Also, when you renew your drivers license they will ask you. How you die only affects organ donation if there are no viable organs left to donate. This means, eyes, skin, heart, kidneys, liver, etc
2007-01-20 17:43:31 · answer #4 · answered by xraytls 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I must appriciate u 4 asking such a good question.
The laws ( Organ donation and Transplantation Acts) are different in different countries. The most common things (steps) u must remember to be an organ donor are..
* First,Document your donation, and inform this to organ collecting banks aswell as to your family members.
** The steps and Medico legal aspects of organ donation are quite a big. U can please See this link 4 all the details.
****** http://www.lectlaw.com/filesh/qfl03.htm
Best of luck buddy..!
2007-01-14 01:42:15 · answer #5 · answered by Dilip kumar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To tell you the truth, I heard that if you are overweight, they won't take the organ. It won't be suitable for the patient because of what the fat has done to it. Fat has quite an effect on your insides and can make a perfectly good liver, heart, kidney, etc, into a bad one. So the doctors won't accept organs from overweight people. That's what I heard anyways.
2007-01-13 23:32:23 · answer #6 · answered by sammytoes 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm an organ donor and I signed up at the DMV when they gave me my Drivers' License and they marked that I was a donor on the license with a red heart. (I live in VA)
2007-01-13 23:32:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well you want to be dead when they do it.
2007-01-13 23:54:11 · answer #8 · answered by Da Mick 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You must be dead.
2007-01-13 23:29:31 · answer #9 · answered by Scott S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋