I've been considering organ donation for a long time (and am registered on my driver's license) so I was wondering which organs can be donated while I'm still healthy and kicking? The only one I know of is the kidney (since we were so kindly gifted with two!). Also, are there any pros or cons to having it done while in your twenties, or should I wait till I'm older?
2007-03-30 13:30:32 · 5 answers · asked by Liz A 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Bone Marrow is a great one. It can be donated relatively easily and with little/no residual consequences.
Kidney and sectios of liver may also be donated but I believe this is not advised as a casual thing because there are long term reprecussions and the donation process is not trivial.
It is selfless of you but be cautious about donatinga kidney to a stranger while you are young. It would be a tragedy to be in need of it later in life.
A bone marrow donation would fulfill your altruism and allow you to keep your lifestyle
2007-03-30 13:37:54 · answer #1 · answered by St. Judy's comet 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Living donor transplants have been done using the kidney, as you already know, portions of the liver, segments of small intestine, distal pancreas, bone marrow, skin grafts. Ova can also be donated for infertile couples.
Liver, pancreas and small bowel donation are not trivial operations and should not be taken lightly. There is a slight chance of donor death (between 0.2 to 0.5% for the liver) and a significant chance of complications which would result in delayed recovery or chronic health problems. It's nice that you are an organ donor but I would suggest you confine yourself to blood donation while you are alive and well which will probably be for the next 80 years or so!
2007-04-01 09:24:28 · answer #2 · answered by Vinay K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The kidney is an obvious one, but you can give away a chunk of liver and regenerate like a salamander does its tail. I wouldn't be in a big hurry, though. That's huge surgery, and you might one day miss that other kidney.
2007-03-31 02:24:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blood isn't really an organ, but there are often shortages (in my area at least) and it can save several lives. You can probably give it for many, many years.
This isn't an organ either but you can donate your hair to locks of love (10 in. pony tail).
Its pretty awesome that you want to give a stranger parts of your body.
2007-03-30 21:26:12 · answer #4 · answered by spidermilk666 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you also have 2 lungs, they can take a portion of your liver and make a new one for someone else, and I think they can even take a segment of your intestines.
2007-03-30 20:34:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋