Discussing organ and tissue donation probably may not seem like a topic to bring up at the family dinner table. However, our guest says, that in reality, the holiday season is the ideal time to talk about this very important matter. Sue Witte, a social worker at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, has these comments:
Why is this the right time of year to speak with loved ones about organ and tissue donation?
Those of us who work in this area think any time is the right time to make sure your family knows what your wishes are in the event that something happens to you. But I think, particularly this time of year, we think of this to be a time of giving and tissue and organ donation being considered such an ultimate gift of giving, so we look at this time of year as a good time to make sure your family knows what your wishes are, as most people really, if they could save a life or really make a difference, would. And so it's an opportunity to do that.
What is the extent of the need for organ and tissue donation currently?
In Iowa we have 384 people currently on the waiting list for an organ. Nationally, there are more than 94,000 people. We always say that if you look at Kinnick Stadium, that's 20,000 more people than fill Kinnick Stadium on a Saturday. And so it's a tremendous need out there for this gift.
What are some of the more common myths about organ and tissue donation?
There's a myth that families would have to pay if their loved one was going to be a tissue or organ donor. There's absolutely no cost to the family, the organ procurement organization picks up all costs. The only costs families have are related to funeral expenses. The organ procurement organization takes care of any costs related to tissue or organ donation.
Another of the other myths out there is that it would delay funeral services for the family. We work with any family related to their specific timeframe for a memorial service for their loved one. They can always dictate what timeframe they need. Usually we are not going to delay anything. And, a family should be able to, if they're interested, have an open casket, and I know these are hard things to talk about, but tissue and organ donation would not preclude that.
How can people make clear their preferences about organ and tissue donation?
One way is to say 'yes' when the Department of Transportation (DOT) asks them when they're getting their driver's license. But the DOT does not keep that in a database for us. Most people arrive at the hospital without a driver's license. The best thing to do is to register on the statewide donor registry and relieve your family of any burden of trying to figure out what your wishes are. It is available to medical staff 24 hours a day.
What facts about organ and tissue donation do you most want listeners to keep in mind?
There are lots of people out there waiting for such a gift. I think sometimes we don't think it's going to touch our lives, but at any time, either ourselves or one of our family members may need that gift as well.
Anyone can make a lifesaving gift, there are no rule-outs. From infancy to old age, anyone can be a donor. Each person is evaluated medically, so please consider saving a life - it's a great opportunity. There are many possibilities.
We hear frequently about kidneys or livers, but there really are many, many options here, isn't that correct?
We really consider each person to be, actually, an eight-organ donor, so we talk about heart, two lungs, two kidneys, liver, pancreas, and actually, the intestine. A lot of infants are born with congenital defects related to their stomach, and they can benefit from the gift of an intestine, and so it's really eight organs that we're looking at each time. |
