BRIDGING LIVES HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM
What High School Students Need to Know About Organ Donation
Who can be an organ donor?
Only patients who have died as a result of brain death can donate vital organs, provided they are healthy.
Which organs can be donated?
The most commonly transplanted organs are the kidneys, liver and heart. The lungs (often in conjunction with the heart) and pancreas are also commonly transplanted, while occasionally the small intestines are transplanted as well.
How do I become an organ donor?
You can become a donor by signing up on the state-authorized Donate Life California Registry at www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org. You may also sign a donor card. However, because your parents will make the final decision until you are 18 years old, you should share your decision with your family.
Can organs be sold?
No. Sale of organs is illegal. Federal law subjects violators to fines and imprisonment.
How does the waiting list work?
Primary care physicians determine whether their patients should be referred to a transplant center for evaluation. If extensive tests determine that the patient is a good candidate for transplantation, the patient’s name is added to the national waiting list, which is maintained by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) under contract with the federal government.
Who receives donated organs?
Organs are allocated nationally based on complex clinical formula. Priority depends on many factors, including urgency of need, length of time on the waiting list, blood type, organ size compatibility and tissue typing. Race, gender, age, income and celebrity status are not considered when determining who receives an organ.
What does “brain death” mean?
When someone is brain dead, it means that there is no blood or oxygen flow to his or her brain. Thus, the brain is no longer functioning in any capacity and never will again. However, because the circulatory and respiratory functions are maintained with machines, the organs may be transplanted.
Does my religion support organ donation?
All major organized religions (with the sole exception of Shinto) support donation, with many considering it a generous act that is the individual's choice.