essay on body donation

Organ Donation Essay

500+ words essay on organ donation.

Organ donation is a noble cause, and by doing this, you can give life to many people. In the current scenario, organs like the small intestine, kidney, eyes, liver, heart, and skin tissues are in great demand.

Every year, thousands of people die due to accidents, and their organs give life to different people. Organs such as kidneys, lungs, livers, and intestines can be donated while we are alive. Most are transplanted within 6 to 72 hours. One donor can save at least eight people’s lives.

What is Organ Donation?

Organ donation is a procedure where healthy tissues and organs are extracted from human beings. Then these organs are transplanted to another needy person, legally, either by consent while the donor is alive or dead with the permission of the donor’s family. In this way, another person’s life can be saved with organ donation. World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on the 13th of August to create awareness about the importance of organ donation and encourage people to do the same.

Organ Donation in Various Countries

When we talk about organ donation in India, it follows an opt-in system. Our Indian Government framed a law to control organ commerce and encourage donation among people after brain death. As per the law, The Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994, any individual who wants to donate their organs needs to fill out a prescribed form on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Government of India’s website.

United States of America

In the United States, the need for organs is multiplying. The States has witnessed a rise in organ donors, but unfortunately, patients waiting for donors have increased rapidly. In the US, one can donate organs with the permission of a doctor or family member. However, various organisations are trying to follow the opt-out system for organ donation.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, organ donation is voluntary. It means those who want to donate their organs voluntarily after death can register for the same.

Iran is the single country that has overcome the shortage of organ transplants. The country follows a proper legal payment system and has legalised organ trade.

In comparison to other countries, organ donation is relatively low in Japan because of cultural reasons, mistrust in western medicines and controversial organ transplants in 1968.

In August 2016, ‘Law 1805’ was passed in Columbia, and the opt-out policy for organ donation was introduced.

Under ‘Law 20,413’, Chile introduced the opt-out policy for organ donation. The Law stated that any individual above 18 years could donate organs unless and until they deny it before death.

Benefits of Organ Donation

Firstly, donating organs is helpful for the grieving process because many people feel relieved and satisfied by donating organs. They think so because they have helped save other people’s lives by donating organs. It also helps in uplifting the quality of life of various people. For example, an eye transplant will help a blind person see the world. Similarly, by organ donation, we can remove the pain and hardship of others. It also reduces the dependency on costly medical treatment.

Organ donation is beneficial in the process of medical science research. With the help of donated organs, researchers can work towards new developments in their respective fields. Not only researchers but medical students are also benefited, especially in fields like biotechnology.

Conclusion of Essay on Organ Donation

We can conclude the essay by saying that organ donation is a good cause. It also ensures the continued contribution of an individual towards society’s well-being even after death. We all should pledge to donate our organs to give life to different needy people. We should promote the importance of organ donation among people through various campaigns. By doing so, we can save the lives of many human beings.

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Home > Books > Organ Donation and Transplantation - Current Status and Future Challenges

Organ Donation and Transplantation: “Life after Death”

Submitted: 13 November 2017 Reviewed: 03 April 2018 Published: 25 July 2018

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.76962

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Organ Donation and Transplantation - Current Status and Future Challenges

Edited by Georgios Tsoulfas

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Organ donation is defined as giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person. Organ transplantation is the only option to save lives in patients affected by terminal organ failures and improve their quality of life. However, there is a disparity exists between the supply and demand of donated organs, leads to a loss of many lives. The number of organ transplantation have gradually increased in the last two decades and provide excellent results in children and young adults, and are challenging by the growing proportion of elderly transplant patients with co morbidity. The results of organ transplantation continue to improve, as a consequence of the innovations and the improvements in peri-operative management. This chapter describes organ donation and transplantation and its trends and challenges.

• organ donation
• psychosocial

Author Information

Kanmani job *.

• Amrita College of Nursing, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India

Anooja Antony

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

Organ donation is defined as giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person. Organ transplantation is the only option to save lives in patients affected by terminal organ failures and improve their quality of life. However, there is a disparity exists between the supply and demand of donated organs, leads to a loss of many lives. The number of organ transplantation have gradually increased in the last two decades and provide excellent results in children and young adults, and are challenging by the growing proportion of elderly transplant patients with co morbidity. The results of organ transplantation continue to improve, as a consequence of the innovations and the improvements in peri-operative management.

Organ transplantation currently depends on the availability of human organs. Their scarcity means that there is a waiting list of almost 63,000 in the European Union, and over 100,000 people in the United States according to the recent survey. The process of obtaining organs for donation and transplantation purely depends on the resources of health services and by health professionals’ performance in potential donor identification and management tasks. However, in accordance with the current legislation it is mainly subjected to a personal or family decision, strongly mediated by psychosocial processes. Therefore, the need to analyze and intervene both in the practices of the professionals involved in the process of organ generation and in the attitudes of the general population need to stressed and addressed [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ].

2. Organ transplantation and organ donation: an overview

Organ transplantation involves the surgical implantation of an organ or section of an organ into a person whose own organ is failing. The donor organ may come from both deceased individual as well as from a living donor. The patients psychological and behavior aspect as well their emotional response and mental health and adherence to medical regimen should be assessed before and after organ transplantation. The living donor’s psychological response towards organ donation (most commonly for kidney and liver segment transplantation) is an important aspect to consider in the transplantation process.

Organ donation is defined as “giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person” (Organ procurement of Transplant Network (OPTN), 2015), organ donation has the potential to save lives. The organs donated from one single donor can save up to eight lives. Organ transplantation may be one of the options left to sustain someone’s life. However, the disparity that exists between the supply and demand of donated organs, leads to a loss of many lives. Based on recent OPTN data, approximately 21 people will die each day while waiting for a transplant in the United States (US). Currently, 123, 358 people are awaiting organs and on the transplant list in the US with this number growing and the number of donated organs declining.

Asian Indians are more likely to have higher rates of having obesity and diabetes when compared with other Asian subgroups which make them at an increased risk of needing a donated organ [ 35 ]. These conditions can lead one to develop coronary artery disease and hypertension which then can lead to chronic kidney disease and other chronic illnesses. Patients who suffer from chronic kidney disease need regular dialysis which can ultimately lead them to organ transplantation to improve one’s quality of life. Also, conditions such as diabetes and obesity can be detrimental to one’s life and can lead to fatty liver disease which can lead to chronic liver disease requiring liver transplantation if the liver decompensates.

The development of organ transplantation in the second half of the 20th century has been a remarkable achievement. Recently; organ transplantation is one of the most effective options for those with an end-stage organ failure. Its success has been basically dependent on public awareness, support and active participation. Without these factors, the efficiency of organ transplantation and the consequent saving or extension of lives would have undoubtedly suffered adversely.

The number of patients in need of organ transplantation has increased at a rapid pace; in contrast, the number of available organs has increased only slightly. Expanded criteria for donor selection, such as older age, have resulted in more people who meet the criteria for brain death becoming organ donors although fewer organs are transplanted from each donor. Improvements in automobile and highway safety, as well as increased enforcement of gun control laws, have also contributed to a plateau in the number of young, healthy donors. Public education efforts that encourage organ donation may be effective in getting more people to sign organ donor cards, but most individuals who do so will never be in a position to become organ donors.

Faced with increasing numbers of patients who need transplantation, deaths on the waiting list, and a fixed number of available organs, some transplant programs are working to increase the number of transplants from living donors. Although living donation has always been an option for some types of transplants, many programs have been reluctant to promote it, as living donation requires invasive surgery on a healthy person with associated risks of morbidity and mortality. For example, since dialysis is an option for patients with end-stage renal disease, surgery on a healthy donor may be difficult to justify, despite the dialysis patient’s diminished quality of life.

The most important in organ donation is to maximize the psychological status and well-being of the donors before and after transplantation has become the foremost goal of all transplantation centres. The psychological issues that mainly concern with the living organ donation includes prevention of psychological harm, ensuring the donors are fully informed and decide to donate without coercion, monitoring donor psychosocial outcomes are intimately linked to the factors that historically served as barriers to use of organs from living donors. These barriers can be overcome by the motivating of the public and creating awareness and responsibility among oneself.

Organs that can be transplanted from the living donor includes one kidney, part of intestine, pancreas, islets of Langerhans, bone, part of liver, one testis, bone marrow and blood. The organ that can be transplanted from the deceased donor are heart, kidney, pancreas, stomach, hand, skin, blood vessels, lungs, liver, intestine, testis, cornea and heart valve.

Autograft: Transplanting a person’s tissues from one site and use it in another site of his body and is called autograft. For example, removal of skin from the legs and using it for damaged skin face or other exposed part.

Allograft: Transplant of an organ between two genetically non identical individuals, it is called allograft. Due to the genetic difference, the donor’s organ will be treated as foreign by the recipient and will try to destroy it. This is called s rejection.

Isograft: Transplant of organ/tissue from a donor to genetically identical recipient is called isograft. There will not be any immune response hence no transplant rejection.

Xenograft: Transplantation of organ/tissues forms one species to another species. For example, the heart valve of pig is transplanted successfully to human.

Split transplant: An organ like liver retrieved from the deceased donor can be divided between two recipients, usually an adult and a child.

Domino transplant: When the lungs are to be transplanted, surgically it is easier to replace them along with the heart. If the recipient’s original heart is healthy, it can be transplanted into another recipient in the need of one.

ABO incompatible transplantation: The immune system of young children aged below 12 months might have developed fully. They can receive organs from incompatible donors.

Live donors: A living person, mentally and physically healthy can donate one of a paired organ, part of an organ or a tissue. The organs donated are kidneys, part of live, one of the lung, part of small intestine, skin, bone marrow, one of the testis and one of the ovaries. Live donor can either be related or unrelated.

Unrelated donors: For altruistic reasons, a person can donate one of his organs to an unrelated donor. According to TOHO act, the unrelated donor should be known to the recipient and have some obligation to him. It has to be established that there is no monetary transaction between them. But in many other countries, even a stranger can donate one of his organs to a needy person on altruistic grounds.

Deceased donors: Organs are harvested from brain dead person whose respiration and circulation are maintained artificially. Brain dead has to be certified by a team of doctors nominated by Government I every organ retrieval centers.

Paired exchange: When a living donor is not compatible with the related recipient, but may be compatible for another recipient. That second recipient related donor is compatible to the first recipient, then permission can be granted for transplantation. The surgery for all four donors and recipient are conducted simultaneously and anonymity is kept until after the transplant.

Spousal donation: A spouse can donate an organ to the partner. It has to be recorded that the couple is legally married.

3. Current scenario: trends

Despite advances in medicine and technology, and increased awareness of organ donation and transplantation, the gap between supply and demand continues to widen. Each year, the number of people in the waiting list is increasing in both donor and transplant. The donation statistics according to OPTN Annual report shows that in 2016, total of 41,335 organs were donated. It can be either deceased or living and four out of five donations came from deceased donors and four out of ten from living donors. According to the report by OTPN 2018, 115,033 people need life-saving organ transplant, of those 74,926 people are the active waiting list candidates.

The real reason behind a living person’s interest in donating one’s organ is important to determine but it is often difficult. Now days, money has become the motivation for donation. The relationships also have played a great role in increasing donation rates. The shortage of available organs can be reduced if; people choose to donate their organs after they die. If more people did that the issue regarding organ shortage can be minimized.

The trend is expected to accelerate each year. Many organ procurement and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations actively participate to increase the donation rates. The organizations take various to steps against traditional social taboos.

The approach, known as “donation after cardiac death” (DCD), usually involves patients who have suffered brain damage, such as from a car accident or a stroke. After family members have made the difficult decision to discontinue a ventilator or other life-sustaining treatment, organ-bank representatives talk to them about donation. Sometimes, the donor is suffering from an incurable disease also end up with the decision of organ donation.

According to U.S Department of Health and Human Services, more than 1,23,000 men, women and children currently needed life-saving organ transplants every 10 minutes and another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. In 2014, more than 8500 deceased donors made possible approximately 24,000 organ transplants. In addition, there were nearly 6000 transplants from living donors. In India, nationally with a population of 1.2 billion people, the statistics stands 0.08 persons as organ donor populations. Mrithasanjeevani, Kerala network of organ sharing which began in 2012, also states that the need for organ transplantation is high as the patients in waiting list is increasing day by day who requires organ transplantation.

The need for organ has gone up substantially all over the world. India also suffers from acute organ shortage with little to no solution for this issue. It is estimated that every year 1.5 lakh people suffer from renal failure out of which only 3000 people get donors. Similarly, every year around 2 lakh people die of liver failure or cancer and rarely get any help in the form of organ donors. It is the same for heart patients, for every 50,000 heart attack patients there are only 15 hearts available for transplant. Therefore, there is an urgent need for widespread campaigns to spread awareness about organ donation in India and to bridge the gap between supply and demand. The numbers that are mentioned here are estimates and real numbers could be far more than this, it is scary because this means very few people get relief and get a second chance in life.

The main reasons for organ shortage in India are mainly ignorance and lack of knowledge. People are not well informed enough about the benefits of organ donation. Today social media and so many other forums can promote the positives of organ donation and how it will save so many lives if more people register themselves for organ donation. The reason for organ shortage is myth and superstition. Many people do not want to donate their organs even after death because of so many myths and superstition they are instilled with. People with existing medical condition or old people, who wish to donate, do not donate thinking they are not fit or eligible. Almost everyone can donate some part or the other unless you have any extreme medical condition.

The need for organ donation is necessary because out of the 1.5 lakh people who need kidney in India only 3000 people receive them, only 1 out of 30 people receive kidney and 90% of people in the waiting list die without getting any donor. Around 70% liver transplants are dependent on a live donor but 30% dependent on cadaver (corpse) donations. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase the organ donation rates and give a person a second chance in their life.

4. Challenges in organ donation

As far as the challenges concerned it includes mainly donor’s motives for donation, the predominant ways in which donors arrive at the decision to donate, and the donors’ psychological status and its relationship to their fitness as donors.

4.1. Pre-donation challenges

4.1.1. donor’s motives.

Most donors are likely to be motivated by multiple factors. These factors include intrinsic factors (e.g., desires to relieve the suffering of another or to act in according to the religious convictions) and extrinsic factors (e.g., the social pressures or perceived norms) that may operate simultaneously. The particular combination of motivational forces will also differ depending on whether and how the donor is related to the recipient.

Among living related donors, it has long been assumed that family members or emotional partners are motivated primarily for saving the lives of their loved ones. Such motives are indeed the most commonly expressed feelings, as noted in a variety of studies over the past 30 years. Among nondirected living donors (individuals donating to unrelated patients whom the donors did not select)(NDLDs), it was identified as the altruistic/humanitarian motives, along with beliefs that the donor’s self-worth would be improved, and feelings of moral and religious obligation or self- identity.

4.1.2. Donor’s decision-making

The motivation for the organ donation is purely on the donor’s decision of organ donation and it may be influenced by many factors including the relationship to the recipients. Decision-making swiftness may indicate the type of decision being made. There appear to be two decision-making approaches that include the moral decision making and the rational decision making. “Moral decision-making” involves awareness that one’s actions can affect another; ascription of responsibility to oneself; acceptance of the social/moral norm governing the behavior; and taking action consistent with that norm. Because moral decision-making does not involve the costs and benefits of a given behavior but, instead, is based on perceived norms governing that behavior, it is likely to lead to non- deliberative, instantaneous decisions. In contrast, “rational” decision-making includes various steps that focus on gathering relevant information, evaluating alternatives, selecting an alternative, and implementing the decision.

4.1.3. Support

It includes mainly the assessment of the donor’s available physical, financial and emotional support. It is necessary to identify whether the donor have someone to provide care in the recovery period, have sufficient financial support and so on. This important to avoid distress if the donor develops any complications. Finally, does the donor have the support of significant others for being a donor, or is he or she choosing to donate over the objections of persons who have a legitimate interest in the outcome of an autonomous decision.

4.1.4. Family attitudes toward donation

Spouse and family attitudes about donation should also be explored. Collateral interviews with significant others is necessary, especially those who will be providing tangible support to the donor during the recovery period, should be conducted whenever possible. Conflicts between potential donors and significant others should be addressed and, ideally, resolved prior to surgery itself in order to avoid conflicts later. Family members should provide a good understanding of the donor’s wishes and motives, even if they agree to disagree to the donor’s decision.

4.1.5. Behavioral and psychological health

The behavioral and psychological health of the donor should also be considered before donation. It is important to identify donor’s lifestyle is sufficiently healthy to reduce unnecessary risk for both donor and recipient. Many potential donors may have some unhealthy behaviors, such as moderate obesity or smoking. It is necessary to identify that there is sufficient time for the donor to reduce risks (e.g., lose weight, stop smoking). Moreover, it needs to be taken care of that the donor is emotionally stable to cope with stresses which may come up before, during, and after the donation. Hence it is important to identify psychological and behavioral status of the donor or else it may affect the quality of life.

4.1.6. Donor-recipient relationship

The relationship between the donor and recipient is a complex matter. Even when both parties are agree for donation and transplant, family dynamics may be complicated, and other family members may assertively involve themselves in the decision-making process. The donor may have unrealizable expectations that transplant will alter his or her relationship with the recipient. The health care team should not expect an ideal relationship in which all interactions between donor and recipient are harmonious. However, obvious tensions and overt psychological issues should be addressed. Joint interviews, involving both donor and recipient, should be avoided early in the evaluation process in order to preserve privacy and give the potential donor the opportunity to express reservations or “opt out” gracefully.

4.1.7. Diversity issues

Non directed donors may have diversity concerns that may affect the organ donation. The potential donors should be assessed for comfort with donation to recipients of different genders, races, religions, sexual orientations, nationalities, ages, underlying diseases, and lifestyles. Donors who express objections, fears, or concerns about who might receive their organ may need to be deferred until they can receive counseling.

4.1.8. Psychological status of potential donors

The potential donor’s psychological status is of greatest concern for donation and transplantation. Concerns have been particularly high in case of unrelated donation (either directed to a specific patient, or NDLD): the willingness or desire to donate to a stranger has been historically viewed with suspicion and as likely to reflect significant psychopathology. There is no doubt that some potential donors will be psychologically poor candidates to serve as donors.

4.1.9. Post-donation challenges

The donors’ perceptions of their physical functional, psychological, and social well-being were found to be either nonsignificantly different from or significantly better than levels reported in the general population. The post challenges mainly includes recipient death or graft loss, donor medical complications, donor history of mood or other psychiatric problems, and poor donor relationships with recipient or family. The other factor is that it may affect the donor’s quality of life if any complication arises.

The post transplantation challenges are many which include minimizing rejection risks, immunosuppression, organ shortage, handling of the stressors of transplantation, psychosocial adaptation and psychological disorders and so on.

4.1.10. Minimizing rejection risks

The twin conditions of antibody sensitization and antibody-mediated rejection remain challenging and frustrating to treat. The recent drugs which are used to desensitize patients or reverse antibody-mediated rejection, especially chronic antibody mediated rejection is totally unsatisfactory. Development of therapies those are more effective and less toxic should be made available. Recent regimens used for antibody desensitization and reversal of antibody-mediated rejection include plasmapheresis, immunoglobulin (IVIG), and rituximab, an anti-chimeric, anti-CD20 antibody. Recently, the proteasome inhibitor Velcade has also been reported to reverse refractory antibody rejection. Eculizumab, a humanized anti-C5 monoclonal antibody appears to protect the renal allograft despite the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA). None of these agents have been tested in rigorous studies.

4.1.11. Immunosuppression

This is one of the major challenges after organ transplantation. Many studies have suggested that most of the late graft loss occurs because of immunologic reasons, frequently antibody-mediated. So the approach of minimizing immunosuppression is necessary with the present drugs to reduce toxicities may actually be helpful in the long-term survival of the graft. The toxicities are minimized by allowing more grafts to be rejected by immune mechanisms. Hence, development of effective agents that lack long-term toxicities so that we can maintain optimum immunosuppression over the long-term.

4.1.12. Stressors after transplantation

In the perioperative period, the focus is on the patient’s physical recovery, with possible rejection episodes and other medical complications causing anxiety and emotional strain. Within the first days after transplantation, a postoperative delirium can occur. The patient can present with symptoms of mental confusion, language disturbances, and occasional hallucinations and delusions are often a frightening experience to patients and their families. Acute brain dysfunction can occur in intensive care patients and patients after surgery. The corticosteroids which are administered for immunosuppression cause these problems. Some of the patients experience problems in accepting the new organ from another individual and suffer with feeling of guilt towards the donor which, in turn, can increase psychological stress and nonadherence [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].

In the long-term postoperative period, medication side effects and associated comorbidities become central stressors impeding patient’s life quality. Most common comorbidities seen are infections, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lipometabolic disorders, adipositas, cardiovascular diseases, oncological diseases, osteoporosis, and chronic kidney failure [ 12 , 13 ]. Furthermore, psychiatric symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, agitation, psychosis) and neurological symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, delirium) can occur as neurotoxic side effects in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs.

Faced with the multiple health risks, patients often continue to experience anxiety and worries regarding possible retransplantation, serious comorbidities, and death. Even patients in good physical health are confronted with severe challenges, for example, regaining their previously lost or restricted social roles as family members and partners (including sexual activity) and returning to work or taking up other meaningful activities. Financial constraints and legal disputes with health or pension insurance agencies constitute other possible sources of psychological strain.

5. Psychosocial adaptation and psychological disorders

After the transplantation, the psychosocial burden more severe in preoperative period than postoperative period. Nevertheless, patients themselves have to demonstrate considerable coping skills. In the best case, transplant patients learn to adapt to their new situation, often by reevaluating life goals and by focusing on more positive consequences, for example, personal growth. On the other hand, unsuccessful readjustment can lower the quality of life and psychiatric morbidity. The most common psychological disorders among patients before and after transplantation are affective and anxiety disorders.

The literature review shows that prevalence of depression in 20–25% of cases before and after kidney transplantation. Less information is available concerning patients receiving other organs. Prior to and following lung transplantation, depression seems to be prevalent in approximately 30% of patients. Hence these show that the depression is a major challenge after transplantation. These issues can be reduced by personal and social resources (resilience factors), that is, favorable coping skills, self-efficacy, sense of coherence, optimism, and social support.

6. Factors affecting donor’s motivation

There are many factors affecting donor’s motivation which includes feelings of love and responsibility, spiritual motives, and greater success rate of organ donation.

6.1. Feelings of love and responsibility

Motives for donating organ to their relative patients were that they tended to do something for their loved ones. In fact, they feel responsible for their problems. They do not treat others’ problems with indifference and attempted to do whatever they could for resolving the problems experienced by transplant recipients. It is considered as their own responsibilities to help them to get rid of their problems. The feel like they are the ones who need to support their patients.

6.2. Close and constant companionship

Another factor affecting the participants’ feeling of responsibility for donation to their family members was close and constant companionship with recipients. This close and constant companionship made the participants to clearly understand the recipients’ conditions and hence, it had resulted in their decision on organ donation in order to alleviate recipients’ problems. This close and constant companionship with patients help family members understand patients’ problems well and increase their degree of commitment to do something for patient’s pain and discomfort. They also noted that this had made them experience deeper shared emotions with their patients and hence, required them to feel responsible for minimizing their patient’s problems.

6.3. Inability to tolerate recipient’s discomfort

Another motive for organ donation was one’s difficulty in tolerating recipient’s discomfort. Love for their sick family members had made the participants feel responsible and decide on doing something for solving their patient’s problems. Their patient’s pain, suffering and discomfort cause a great inconvenience and irritation which lead them to the decision of organ donation. They hoped that organ donation alleviate their patient’s problems [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 36 ].

6.4. Spiritual motives for donation

Religious beliefs played a significant role in motivating to organ donation. Some of them believed that donation was a way for expiating their past sins. They referred to faith in God, reliance on Him, and hope for a successful transplant as the important motives for organ donation. Some of them even accused themselves of causing their family members to develop organ failure and believed that donation was a way for alleviating their feelings of guilt. Such a practice was particularly common among the parents of sick children. Some of them considered donation as a God-approved practice, and noted that God has helped them donate their organs. They noted that they donated their organs for gratifying God and believed that he sees it and help them in all bad situations.

6.5. Greater success rate of organ transplantation

The category is the greater success of organ transplantation. In other words, obtaining information and realizing the greater benefits of organ transplantation had motivated the participants to opt for organ donation. Some of them reported that they had never thought about donation until obtaining information from their patient’s physicians. However, after obtaining adequate information, they had made an irreversible decision about organ donation. Accordingly, a major motive for organ donation was the lower likelihood of organ rejection.

7. Measures to overcome challenges for organ donation

The decisions regarding organ donation based on the personal beliefs (religious, cultural, family, social and body integrity) levels of knowledge about organ donation and previous interaction with the health care team. Many maintained positive attitudes to organ donation despite significant reservations about the organ donation process. Resistance to organ donation found to be less in the case of living donation for family.

There are some religious beliefs that can have both positive and negative influences, these often stemmed from uncertainty or misrepresentation of religious edicts. One solution would be to actively engage religious leaders in the transplant community, especially when it has been reported that, across the major religions, there are very few cases where organ donation can be seen to be inconsistent with religious beliefs. Religious leaders should be made available in hospitals and other transplantation setting to assist families in making decisions regarding organ donation and potentially to remove the misperceptions. Staff members who are involved in approaching families to request consent for donation should be part of the awareness programs and resources about religious concerns. Similarly, cultural sensitivity to issues such as apprehensiveness to discuss death among certain groups or individuals and the importance to many of death rituals may improve dialog regarding organ donation.

Studies have shown that engaging some minority groups in the health care system and creating a sense of belonging and ownership can improve compliance with organ donation. As a consequence, more efforts should be made to create positive interactions within the health care team members, especially for minority groups, to improve the organ donation rates. Although many of the studies have showed that higher socio-economic status and education were associated with a stronger willingness to be an organ donor. Some of the strong reservations held, even among those with generally positive views towards donation, such as concerns that agreeing to donation would discourage doctors from caring so much about saving their lives in case of an emergency or that it would result in the premature removal of their organs or indeed prevent them from having an open coffin at their funerals, are examples of very real barriers that can be readily addressed through information. Through a proper awareness and motivation the donation rates can be improved which can save many lives.

7.1. Psychological care

Psychological consultation is essential for all disease stages enabling patients to better cope with their extraordinarily stressful situation. A need for psychological care was found in up to 50% of transplant patients. Educational and supportive therapies are of utmost importance but also cognitive-behavioral interventions including relaxation techniques can also be considered. Less common methods like hypnotherapy and “Quality of Life Therapy” have also been utilized for overcoming the challenges.

Moreover, family members as well as caregivers of transplant patients show increased psychological strain before and after transplantation. Family counseling, and psychotherapeutic support, can help reduce psychological strain, thus also maintaining the valuable social support provided by care givers and family members of the transplant patient. Henceforth, the family and care givers should also be considered in psychosocial evaluation to overcome the problems.

7.2. Alternative methods to increase donation

In view of ethical, legal and political issues, it was deemed important to obtain some opinion about alternative methods to increase organ donation rates. Financial incentives were given to increase organ donation. Many in both donor and non-donor groups were given a reasonable incentive. Education and dissemination of information about donation and transplantation was important to increase organ donation rates. There was nearly universal agreement that implied consent (presumed consent) should not be tried. The use of financial incentives was not markedly opposed (some accepted the idea of funeral expense reimbursement), although there was not strong support either. In general, methods to increase organ donation had not been well thought out by either donors or nondonors indicating, perhaps, that the assumption of altruism or motivation is the best way to increase the donation rates.

8. Responsibilities of nurses in organ donation and transplantation

Organ and tissue transplant nurses need comprehensive and scientific knowledge. They include the evaluation and management of deceased donors, transplant recipients, potential donors or live donors, teaching and counseling of transplant recipients and live donors related to self-care management, healthy life and a peaceful death when this is imminent. This is important in order to improve the posttransplant quality of life.

Nurses have important role in the development of a successful transplantation program. They are key members of the team that works to deliver care to patients and relatives, through the use of technological, logistic and human resources, with a view to coordination, care, education and research on organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Therefore, the nurses need adequate knowledge on the principles of good ethical principles and should have resources available for them to assess patient’s risks and social issues related to organ transplants and donation. The researchers hope that the future studies will encourage further researches on the role and responsibilities of nurses.

9. Conclusion

The organ donation decision is a complex one, based strongly on personal beliefs. There are some factors, such as religious and cultural beliefs, that are seemingly intractable and are often cited as reasons for a refusal to donate. In this chapter, it is shown that these have often been found to be tied in with more complex issues such as a distrust of the medical system, misunderstandings about religious stances and ignorance about the donation process. Interventions to better engage the community, including disadvantaged and minority groups, to foster trust and provide information represent promising opportunities of promoting organ donation in the future.

Donor motives directly contribute to their decision to donate, is not uniform and is influenced by multiple factors. Majority of the donors were relationship oriented donor, whose major motives were desires to relieve the suffering & save the life of their loving ones. Creating awareness to the organ donation will directly influence the donor motives and willingness. By deriving the motives many more intervention to improve the willingness to be a living organ donor can be evolved. Recruitment of living donors represents a medical and moral responsibility. The possibility of organ removal from healthy donor to a recipient needs great inner motivation. Saving one’s life is divine.

The psycho social assessment must be made as a routine part of the nursing process. These assessments are meant to identify patients at risk for poor outcomes, provide guidelines for their management and improve the post-transplant quality of life [ 6 ]. “Because donated organs are a severely limited resource, the best potential, recipients should be identified. The probability of a good outcome must be highly emphasized to achieve the maximum benefit for all transplants” (OPTN/UNOS Ethics committee General Considerations in Assessment for Transplant Candidacy White paper-2010).

• 1. United Network for Organ Sharing. 1999 Annual Report of the U. S. Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients and the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.: Transplant Data 1989–1998. Richmond, Va: US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Research Services Administration, Office of Sponsored Projects, Division of Transportation, and United Network for Organ Sharing; 2000
• 2. Alexander JW, Zola JC. Expanding the donor pool: Use of marginal donors for solid organ transplantation. Clinical Transplantation. 1996; 10 :1-19
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• 7. Goldman LS. Liver transplantation using living donors: Preliminary donor psychiatric outcomes. Psychsomatics. 1993; 34 (3):235-240
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© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Donating Your Organs or Body to Science

Making the decision to donate your organ or body can be fulfilling

Organ and tissue donation is a gift you leave others when you die. While it's also possible to donate organs while you are  still living , more often donation takes place upon death.

According to the U.S. government, about 100 people receive transplanted organs each day. That's the good news. The bad news is that 17 people in the United States die each day waiting for an organ that never becomes available. In February 2021, approximately 107,000 Americans were awaiting the gift of an organ or body tissue from someone who had died.

Organ recipients and the families of donors and recipients find satisfaction in both the giving and receiving. Someone who receives a new organ or tissue will live a longer and healthier life, or the quality of his life will improve. The family of a donor often feels as if some of the grief of losing their loved one is lessened by the knowledge that someone else's life has been improved by the donation.

As patients consider their end-of-life wishes, they will want to include decisions about donating organs, tissue or even their entire bodies. The following questions and answers may help you make those decisions for yourself.

How Does Illness or Age Affect the Ability to Donate Organs?

There is no maximum age for organ donation. Regardless of how sick someone is when he dies, there may still be portions of the body that can be transplanted. It's true that some infectious diseases will cause the transplant decision-makers to reject a patient as a donor. Patients considering donation are advised to make the decision to donate, and let the professionals decide at the time of death whether a donation can be accepted.  

What Parts of the Human Body Can Be Donated After Death for Transplantation?

Many parts of the human body can be transplanted to other people to improve their quality of life, or to help them survive. You can donate eight vital organs, including your heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines. You can donate tissues including your cornea, skin, heart valves, bone, blood vessels, and connective tissue. Transplants of the hands and face, which are less common, are now being performed.  

Your organs and tissues may provide as many as 80 opportunities for transplantation, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration.   Examples include  corneal tissue transplants . Even if the vision of the person who dies isn't perfect, their corneas can improve the eyesight of recipients. Healthy donor skin can be grafted to help a burn victim. A new kidney may allow someone who is on regular dialysis the freedom to stop dialysis treatments.

What About Whole Body Donation?

Another kind of donation, but just as much of a gift, is whole body donation. When a body is donated to medical science, it provides the opportunity for student doctors to learn about anatomy and disease. It also allows researchers to learn more about diseases, how they start and progress, and perhaps some of the ways the disease could have been prevented or cured.

Medical universities and research labs are highly appreciative of donations of human bodies. The great majority of donations are accepted, although some infectious diseases may rule out donation. Find more information about whole body donation by contacting an academic medical college near you, or one of the nationwide programs that accept bodies. Two organizations that may be helpful are the  Anatomy Gifts Registry  and  Science Care . In most cases, after your body or tissues are used for research or training, there is a final disposition by cremation and the remains are then returned to the family.

Who Will Get Your Donated Organs and Tissues?

The decisions about who will get those healthy organs and tissue need to be fair and objective. In the United States, organs cannot legally be bought or sold, and decisions about who will be granted the newly harvested organs are made based on their level of need.

An organization called UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) is the overall governance for how those decisions are made. They maintain lists of patients' names, their geographic locations, and their need. As patients get sicker waiting for organs to be available, those lists are updated. At any given moment, you can check the UNOS website to see how many people in the United States are waiting for what specific organs or tissues.

What Happens Upon Death If You Are an Organ Donor?

If you die in a hospital or other facility, a procurement specialist will contact your next-of-kin immediately upon, or just before your death. Your family will be given information, asked questions about whether you would want to donate organs and tissues, or even your whole body. The specialist will check your driver's license and state registry to see if you have designated your willingness to be a donor.

Your family will have a very short time, sometimes only minutes after your death, to decide whether they want that donation made. That's why it's critical you make your wishes known to your family while you are still healthy enough to have the conversation.

You will still be able to have an open casket funeral if you are an organ, eye, or tissue donor. Your body will be treated with respect and dignity when the tissues are harvested.

How Much Does It Cost to Donate Your Body or Organs?

There is no cost to the donor or the donor's family. The family is still obligated to cover funeral costs.  Transplantation costs  are taken on by the patients who need the organs or tissues.

Are There Religious Restrictions for Organ Donations?

Religious beliefs are rarely a reason to reject the idea of donating one's organs, tissue, or body. OrganDonor.gov  lists of religions and their beliefs about donation and transplantation . Most denominations and traditions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam approve of organ donation and often encourage it. Notable exceptions include Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Scientists, and the Shinto faith.  

Will Doctors Work as Hard to Save Your Life If They Know You Are an Organ Donor?

This has been a fear, probably based on bad movies or vivid imaginations, but it's not reality. It's actually one of several myths addressed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) website.

Doctors and medical personnel have a first duty to make sure they keep you alive as long as they are able, and as long as your family wants you kept alive. Any other decisions about donations take place once there is no hope you can be kept alive any longer.

How Do You Become an Organ or Whole Body Donor?

You can register as an organ donor if you are age 18 or over. There are two ways to sign up, either online or in-person at your local motor vehicle department. Then you must make your wishes known to your family. While you explain your wishes to your family, ask them to become organ or body donors, too. Also, you should develop  advanced directive documents . While you explain your wishes to your family, ask them to become organ or body donors, too.

Most states allow you to choose which organs or tissues you are willing to donate or to say you are willing to donate anything usable. You can change your donor status at any time, but you don't have to keep renewing it. Being on the state registry is legal consent.

Health Resources and Services Administration. Organ donation statistics .

Health Resources and Services Administration. Who can donate ?

Health Resources and Services Administration. What can be donated ?

Health Resources and Services Administration. Organ Donation FAQs .

Oliver M, Woywodt A, Ahmed A, Saif I. Organ donation, transplantation and religion . Nephrol Dial Transplant . 2011;26(2):437-44. doi:10.1093/ndt/gfq628

By Trisha Torrey  Trisha Torrey is a patient empowerment and advocacy consultant. She has written several books about patient advocacy and how to best navigate the healthcare system. 

Organ Donation Essay: 7 Narrowed Topics and Credible Sources

Writing an organ donation essay or giving an organ donation persuasive speech is critical for making personal life choices and making a change in the world. There are different ways to narrow the topic and choose one clear focus for your essay. However, no matter what focus you choose, you will have to inform yourself on key aspects shaping the narrative around organ donation: 

• How high the need in organs is;
• What the legislature is and how the organs are allocated;
• What ways to decrease the shortage of organs for transplantation have been suggested;
• What organ trafficking issues exist (even though it may be a separate topic, the statistics and horrifying instances of organ trafficking prove that something has to be done with the shortage of organs in wealthy countries, and a donation system plays a large role here).

Below, you will find this core information. Thus, choose the narrowed topic, read the main facts and debates around the topic, and have some of the quality sources ready before you even start further research.

Transplantation and Organ Donation Essay Topics

Organ donation essay topics are on verge of  medicine  and  ethics  and may take the form of a range of discursive questions:

1. What is the best way to decrease the shortage of organs for transplantation?

2. Should the legislature concerning organ transplantation be changed?

3. Should there be an opt-in or opt-out donor system?

4. Should people be refused organ transplantation for leading an unhealthy lifestyle?

5. Should the organ transplantation committee consider the patient’s personal details (marital status, children, accomplishments, personal qualities) when choosing what person will receive an organ?

6. Should doctors be required to report the cases of organ trafficking (when a person has a needed organ though he did not get it being on the national list)?

7. Should inmates be listed on the national waiting list?

Sources for an Organ Transplantation Essay

The following sources provide the information you need to write your essay. For your convenience, I have added APA and MLA citations so that you don’t have to spend additional time formatting your paper.

Ethics of Organ Transplantation

The 2004 Report of the Centre of Bioethics  is a great source to start with as it provides a great overview of the legislature, allocation principles, and possible solutions accompanied with the alternative or opposing views.

Here are the most important facts and ideas you can find in this text:

• Transplantation may be from a deceased donor (in this case, organs are called  cadaveric ) or a living donor (directed donation to the relative or the loved ones or non-directed donation to a stranger). In each case, the legislature  prohibits any monetary remuneration  for the living donor or relatives of the deceased, whose organs have been given for transplantation.
• The sole organization responsible for the allocation of organs in the USA  is The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). To get an organ, a person should be on its list.
• The computer processes the information about the newly available organ and produces the ranked list of donors who can receive it.  The criteria used  are: (1) organ type and size, blood type, (2) distance between the organ and the patient, (3) level of medical urgency, (4) time on the waiting list. Additional factors such as the availability of the patient and his willingness to receive an organ and the patient’s satisfactory medical condition for transplantation are considered by local organ procurement organizations (OPO). No other factors such as level of income, race, gender, merits, or even ability to sustain anti-transplantation treatment are considered.
• The shortage of organs is due to  a number of factors: the increase in the number of people in need of organs (due to the aging of the population, medical technological advances), and the declining numbers of car crash fatalities due to seat belt campaigns and air bag use.
• On average,  17 patients die every day while awaiting an organ . In 2002, 6,187 people on the U.S. organ transplant waiting list died because the organ they needed was not donated in time. More relevant statistics may be found on the  UNOS website .
• If the donation wishes of the deceased are unknown, permission has to be obtained from the family member with the authority using the defined hierarchy.

Opposing views on the distribution criteria:

• Some argue that the current system of  including people who ruined their organs by their lifestyle choices  such as smoking and alcohol use is unjust, as such people make the list longer and reduce the chances of people who had no control over their organ failures to get the needed help. Such criterion is referred to as the medical “worthiness” bias. The opponent of the bias state the determining of “worth” and including factors other than medical need is a slippery slope, which can lead to biased distribution.
• Another debated criterion is the  consideration of the success of the transplantation , which is measured as a number of years the patient will live when transplanted an organ. The naysayers suggest such approach (1) leaves space for bias, (2) is simply a guess for success is impossible to predict for sure, (3) puts older people at the disadvantage. (other sources also mention the suggestion to consider not the length but the quality of life after transplantation such as the ability to communicate, care for oneself, etc.)

Five strategies to increase the availability of organs:

1. Education  (educational campaigns promoting the idea of donation

2. Mandated choice  (all the people are made to make a choice: donate or not to donate organs after death). The issue with this strategy is that people fear lest the death may be declared earlier or not so much affords will be put into saving the patients if his donation wish is known. Therefore, when the policy was tested in Texas in 1990’s, 80% chose not to donate.

3. Presumed consent  (opt-out system – all are donors unless they specifically request not to donate). Opponent say that the needed level of public education and understanding of their rights will be difficult to achieve and some people who oppose to donation may find it difficult to indicate their wish.

4. Prisoners  (taking organs of prisoners who are put to death).

5. Incentives  (both financial and not-financial incentives such as covering funeral expenses or donating in the name of the deceased are discussed). Buying and selling of organs is banned as the means of exploitation of the poor who are likely to overlook the possible drawbacks of donation for monetary incentives.

Center of Bioethics (2004). Ethics of organ transplantation. Retrieved from web address.

Center of Bioethics. Ethics of Organ Transplantation, 2004, web address.

Great Debate: Should Organ Donors Be Paid

The source  considers incentives as a possible solution to the organ shortage. The greatest amount of debate for financial incentives surrounds kidney donation as

• cadaveric organs cover only 20% of the national waiting list,
• living donors end up losing own their money for their altruism (due to travel costs, time off work, possible complications, sometimes, need of lifelong medical treatment),
• unlike heart, a kidney may be donated without severe damage to the donor’s health

Introducing the payment for organs is opposed as the way of exploitation of the poor. The opponents suggest once the market is created, it will be impossible to regulate. Nevertheless, if there is a regulated organ market

• the physicians will assess whether donors are healthy enough to donate and assure donors are informed of the risks, which is drastically different from the trafficking schemes where the health of the donor or the recipient is not considered.
• Extremely poor will be excluded from the system as having high risks of kidney disease
• The rich should not necessarily have the right to buy the organs they wish. The organs may be bought by the state and distributed by the UNOS using its distribution criteria. Thus expenses are justified as the transplants pay off after about 18 months versus dialysis.

In addition, the interviewed expert stresses that wealthy countries with a high demand for organs should assume responsibility for the flourishing of the trafficking business. Therefore, reducing organ shortage in the U.S. will also reduce the organ trafficking market in developing countries, where the poor may not rely on adequate social and legal protection.

Rettner, R. (2009). Great debate: Should organ donors be paid?  Live Science . Retrieved from web address.

Rettner, Rachael, “Great Debate: Should Organ Donors Be Paid?”  Live Science , 2009, web address.

Should We Legalize the Market for Human Organs?

The source  presents the excerpts from the speeches of the experts, made on the public debate on the issue. Here are the most persuasive:

Arguments for: 

Sally Satel ,  a psychiatrist and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute who received a kidney from a friend in 2006,

“We are not talking about a classic commercial free-for-all, or a free market, or an eBay system. We’re talking about a third-party payer. For example, today you could decide to give a kidney. You’d be called a Good Samaritan donor. … The only difference in a model that I’m thinking about is where you go and give your organ, and your retirement account is wired $40,000, end of story.”

Amy Friedman , director of transplantation at SUNY Upstate Medical University

“I agree with our opponents that the black market must be closed. I disagree with asking patients to accept death gracefully, instead of resorting to the black market. My position is that development of a legal, regulated mechanism for donor compensation is the only means of effectively eliminating the demand for this covert activity, closing down the black market and improving safety for donors and recipients. … Compensation for the organ donor’s time and risks, by providing life insurance, lifelong health insurance and even a direct monetary fee, is more appropriate than for the donation of an egg, the rental of a uterus for a surrogate pregnancy, or the participation in clinical experimentation, all of which are legal.”

Arguments against:

Francis Delmonico , professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and adviser to the World Health Organization on transplantation,

 “What we do here has a profound influence on the rest of the world. Now, I say that because I’ve been to Manila. And … it’s not a matter of balanced thought when a 14-year-old has to sell a kidney to an American that comes there … About 20 patients a month go from Israel to Manila because of cheap prices. If there’s a market legalized in the United States, in the global context of medical tourism, do you think that the 72-year-old patient on the list would wait for a kidney here, versus going to buy a 20-year-old kidney in Manila?”

David Rothman , professor of social medicine at Columbia University and director of the Center on Medicine as a Profession,

“What this is really about is the sale of organs from living donors. … There are very, very good reasons – many drawn from behavioral economics, some drawn from past experience — that suggest that, in fact, to create a market might diminish the supply, not increase it. In the first instance, if I can buy it why should I give it?… In England, where the sale of blood was not allowed, rates of donation were considerably higher than the U.S., where the sale of blood was allowed.”

Knox, R. (2008). Should we legalize the market for human organs?  NPR . Retrieved from  web address.

Knox, Richard. “Should We Legalize the Market for Human Organs?”,  NPR,  21 May, 2008, web address.

Ethical Dilemmas Surround Those Willing to Sell, Buy Kidneys on Black Market

The  author argues  for the legalization of organ trade and opt-out system. The source explains the need in kidneys as “biological life insurance” but stresses the desperation of people who spend years on dialysis and long to obtain the organ by any means. The author also testifies the ability of the poor to give informed consent. The source also reviews the  disincentives:  people willing to donate to friends refuse to do that because then they will be denied life insurance.

Castello, M. (2013). Ethical dilemmas surround those willing to sell, buy kidneys on black market.  CBS News . Retrieved from web address.

Castello, Michelle. “Ethical Dilemmas Surround Those Willing to Sell, Buy Kidneys on Black Market”,  CBS News,  1 Nov. 2013 ,  web address.

Black Market Organ Trafficking

“Organ Trafficking: A Deadly Trade”  by Julie Bindel tells several stories of organ trafficking schemes and presents important statistics. In particular, according to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) research, there are 10,000 black-market operations involving purchased human organs annually and 5-10% of all kidney transplants are obtained through organ trafficking. The article shows donors can be kidnapped and forced to give up an organ. Doctors can deceptively convince them they need an operation and remove an organ without the knowledge of the patient. Some victims can be murdered to order. Among the targeted, there are many children, especially from poor backgrounds or disabled. In many cases, donors give consent to sell their organs, but eventually get neither money nor proper after operational treatment.

Bindel, J. (2013) Organ trafficking: A deadly trade.  The Telegraph . Retrieved from web address.

Bindel, Julie. “Organ Trafficking: A Deadly Trade”,  The Telegraph,  1 Jul. 2013, web address.

“Trafficking in Human Bodies”  is an extensive official report conducted at the request of the European Parliament. It gives very detailed information on the forms and routes of organ trafficking. In addition, it clearly appeals to the responsibility of the wealthy states who drive the organ business in the third world developing courtiers. Furthermore, it discusses the current legislation concerning the prevention of organ trade (rather lack of its effectiveness). In particular, it considers the role of doctors and stresses the necessity to change legislature to place more responsibility on those who actually conduct illegal transplant operations or consult patients on obtaining organs illegally.

The source will be very useful for those who have to write longer papers. Those, who have to write short position essays can move directly to the conclusion, which gives a very good summary of the report.

Bos, M. (2015). Trafficking in human bodies. Retrieved from web address.

Bos, Michael. “Trafficking in Human Bodies”, 18 Jun. 2015, web address.

“Human Harvest: China’s Organ Trafficking”  by Leon Lee tells about the study performed by Nobel Peace Prize nominees, David Matas and David Kilgour, who have spent years investigating organ harvesting in China. In the documentary, which summarized their work, the researchers show that the organs, excessively transplanted in China, usually come from political prisoners. Namely, the members of the Falun Gong movement, banned by the Chinese Government, are killed to order for transplant tourists.

Lee, L. (2015). Human harvest: China’s organ trafficking.  SBS . Retrieved from web address.

Lee, Leon. “Human Harvest: China’s Organ Trafficking”,  SBS , 7 Apr. 2015, web address.

Transplantation Organs for Prisoners Debate

“Offender Organ Transplants: Law, Ethics, Economics, and Health Policy” . The article considers the relevant law and ethical issues and argues for the provision of all the necessary medical care to prisoners, transplantation operations in particular, as a necessary attribute of a democratic state and an essential component of correction. At the same time, it acknowledges the fact that the prison population has an increased need for transplants due to health history and ethnic and racial make-up.

McKinney, E.B., Winslade, W.J., & Stone, T.H. (2009). Offender organ transplants: Law, ethics, economics, and health policy.  Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy , 7(17): 39-69.

McKinney, E. Bernadette et al, “Offender Organ Transplants: Law, Ethics, Economics, and Health Policy”,  Houston Journal of Health Law & Policy , vol.7, no.17, 2009, pp.39-69.

“Donating Organs to Inmates Targeted” . The article discusses the bill suggested by Denham, which meant to allow people to opt-out of letting the organs they donate go to prisoners. The bill followed the heated discussion of the allocation of a heart (the most expensive transplant organ) to the prisoner who still died a year after the operation for being “not a model patient”.

Warren, J. (2003). Donating organs to inmates targeted.  Los Angeles Times . Retrieved from web address.

Warren, Jenifer, “Donating Organs to Inmates Targeted”,  Los Angeles Times,  24 Jan. 2003, web address.

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Ethical Considerations of Body Donation

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Dead human bodies not only teach students the structure and function of the human form but also provide a rich environment for other learning experiences, including ethical and professional development. Ethical questions especially arise from the procurement and use of bodies in anatomy. This chapter will describe the role that anatomical donation programs play in educating individuals about medical ethics. In contrast to historical anatomical body procurement, which was often coercive and discriminatory, modern anatomical gift programs focus on individual consent in each donor. Ongoing ethical challenges in body procurement include the role of not-for-profit and for-profit body donation programs, the potential monetary value of donated tissue, advertising for body donation programs, and detailed versus broad informed consent in donation. It is argued that transparent and ethical anatomical body procurement is one of the core values of a body donation program and a hallmark of all students’ ethical and professional training.

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Hildebrandt, S., Champney, T.H. (2020). Ethical Considerations of Body Donation. In: Chan, L.K., Pawlina, W. (eds) Teaching Anatomy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-43283-6_23

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• World J Transplant
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Philosophy of organ donation: Review of ethical facets

Correspondence to: Aparna R Dalal, MD, Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1428 Madison Avenue, NY 10029, United States. [email protected]

Telephone: +1-216-2722545 Fax: +1-206-4864610

Transplantation ethics is a philosophy that incorporates systematizing, defending and advocating concepts of right and wrong conduct related to organ donation. As the demand for organs increases, it is essential to ensure that new and innovative laws, policies and strategies of increasing organ supply are bioethical and are founded on the principles of altruism and utilitarianism. In the field of organ transplantation, role of altruism and medical ethics values are significant to the welfare of the society. This article reviews several fundamental ethical principles, prevailing organ donation consent laws, incentives and policies related to the field of transplantation. The Ethical and Policy Considerations in Organ Donation after Circulatory Determination of Death outline criteria for death and organ retrieval. Presumed consent laws prevalent mostly in European countries maintain that the default choice of an individual would be to donate organs unless opted otherwise. Explicit consent laws require organ donation to be proactively affirmed with state registries. The Declaration of Istanbul outlines principles against organ trafficking and transplant tourism. World Health Organization’s Guiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation aim at ensuring transparency in organ procurement and allocation. The ethics of financial incentives and non-financial incentives such as incorporation of non-medical criteria in organ priority allocation have also been reviewed in detail.

Core tip: Transplantation ethics is philosophy that involves systematizing, defending and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct related to organ donation. As the demand for organs increases, it is essential for the society to ensure that new and innovative laws, policies and strategies of increasing organ supply are bioethical. In the field of organ transplantation, role of altruism and medical ethics values are significant to the welfare of the society. This article reviews the fundamental ethical principles to prevailing organ donation consent laws, incentives and policies.

Organ donation is founded on the pillars of altruism. When the moral value of an individual’s actions are focused mainly on the beneficial impact to other individuals, without regard to the consequences on the individual herself, the individual’s actions are regarded as “Altruistic”. Auguste Comte[ 1 ] coined the word “Altruism” (French, altruisme, from autrui: “other people”, and also derived from Latin alter: “other”). He was the French founder of positivism and described his views in Catéchisme Positiviste[ 2 ], where living for others was “Altruism”. Altruism can be classified into two types-obligatory and supererogatory. Obligatory altruism is defined as a moral duty to help others. Supererogatory altruism is defined as morally good, but it is not morally required-going “above and beyond” one’s duty. The act that maximizes good consequences for all of society is known as utilitarianism[ 3 ].

Altruistic behavior and happiness are reciprocal in nature. In fact, neuroscientists have found neural bases for altruism[ 4 ]. With functional magnetic resonance imaging, it has been shown that the subgenual cortex/septal region, which is intimately related to social bonding and attachment, gets activated when volunteers made altruistic charitable donations[ 4 ].

The opposite of altruism is egoism[ 5 ]. Egoism is the sense of self-importance. Psychological egoists claim that each person has his/her own welfare on their priority agenda. Some form of self-interest, such as intrinsic satisfaction, ultimately motivates all acts of sharing, helping or sacrificing. Other motivating criteria are expectation of reciprocation, and/or the desire to gain respect or reputation, or by the notion of a reward in life after death.

MORAL OBLIGATIONS

Ethically, doctors are professionally responsible to adhere to medicine’s unique moral obligations. The Hippocratic tradition is the origin of several tenets of medical ethics. One of them is the commitment to nonjudgmental regard. Health professionals are professionally responsible to render care to patients without being affected by any judgment as to the patient’s worthiness[ 6 ].

Another medical ethical tenet is Primum non nocere or “first, do no harm”. This principle is clearly embodied in the Hippocratic oath for physicians. This principle of non-maleficence is the most serious ethical concern in living donor transplants, due to the potential of doing medical harm to the donor. Many donors experience significant pain and short-term disability. The risk of surgical complications in living donor surgery is 5% to 10% risk and the risk of death is 0.5% to 1%[ 7 ].

A doctor has a duty of beneficence that constitutes a professional obligation to benefit patients, placing their good before his or her own. Fiduciary responsibility encompasses use of knowledge, powers, and privileges for the good of patients[ 6 ]. This is the essence of medicine’s fiduciary responsibility and commitment to beneficence.

DEATH AND ORGAN RETRIEVAL

Prior to the establishment of brain death criteria in 1968, the main source of grafts was donation after cardiac death (DCD)[ 8 ]. Thereafter, donation after brain death (DBD) soon became as the leading source of organs mostly due to the improved graft quality and potential for multiple organs. However, due to organ shortage, there was a renewed interest in cardiac/circulatory death. The potential for Donation after Circulatory Determination of Death programs is enormous. It is a very effective way to increase the grafts pool in both, adult as well as pediatric population[ 9 ]. A critical pathway for deceased donation, both DBD and DCD, was developed in 2011[ 10 ].

In 2012, a statement on Ethical and Policy Considerations in Organ Donation after Circulatory Determination of Death was structured[ 11 ]. Determination of death can be made after the cessation of circulation and respiratory function for 2 min. Underlying ethical principles considered were: (1) acts that promote the opportunity to donate viable organs respect the patient’s potential interest in becoming an organ donor; (2) the legitimacy of surrogate decision making for critically ill patients whose wishes are unknown extends to decisions regarding organ donation; (3) if real or perceived conflicts arise between the goals of providing optimal end-of-life care and the goals of procuring organs, delivery of quality end-of-life care should take priority. The dead donor rule emphasizes that the recovery of donated organs shall not cause the donor’s death.

PRESUMED CONSENT

World Health Organization (WHO) defines presumed consent as a system that permits material to be removed from the body of a deceased person for transplantation and, in some countries, for anatomical study or research, unless the person had expressed his or her opposition before death by filing an objection with an identified office or an informed party reports that the deceased definitely voiced an objection to donation[ 12 ].

Implicit consent[ 13 ] is consent without some specific move denoting consent, and inaction is itself a sign of consent. An example would be when the chairperson of a board meeting announces a motion carried unless there are any objections. It is important to emphasize that implicit consent is still real or actual. Those attending the meeting are aware that their silence will be inferred as consent, unless they specifically object[ 14 ].

Many ethicists believe that actual consent is not essential for organ donation[ 15 ]. The default position should be that one would want to donate organs as it is for the good of the society[ 16 ]. They also believe that it is immoral for an individual to decline consent for donation of his or her organs[ 13 ].

Presumed consent was first introduced in Spain by law in 1979. Spain has the highest deceased donation rate per million populations (35.3 p.m.p. in 2011)[ 17 ]. However, Organizacion Nacional de Trasplantes (ONT), Spain’s governing transplantation organization, confers this success to its “Spanish Model” rather than its legislation[ 18 , 19 ]. Success factors of the Spanish Model include its legal approach and a comprehensive program of education, communication, public relations, hospital reimbursement, and quality improvement[ 20 , 21 ]. Intensive care unit doctors or anesthesiologists work part-time as in-hospital transplant coordinators[ 22 ]. The hospital pays them bonus salaries for organ donations they undertake[ 23 ]. The Spanish ONT explicitly denies that this factor alone causes the success seen in Spain[ 24 , 25 ]. This model differs significantly from that in the United States where transplant coordinators are part of the Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO).

In Spain, there is no national non-donor registry[ 21 ]. Approximately nineteen of twenty-five nations with presumed consent laws have some provision for individuals to express their desire to be an organ donor[ 22 ]. However, health professionals in only four of these nations (Belgium, France, Poland and Sweden) acknowledged that they do not override a deceased’s expressed wish if the family objects[ 22 ]. A de facto family veto is significant to the choice between consent processes in cases where opt-in and opt-out schemes have a different after-effects on families subsequently vetoing organ removal[ 26 , 27 ]. If the family vetoes, then the opt-out case becomes much weaker.

Some ethicists feel that a duty to donate or feeling of obligation to the society aids transition from presumed consent to conscription for organ donation[ 28 ]. In the conscription model, every individual is under compulsion to donate organs[ 29 ]. The individual’s body and organs are owned by the State. However, such a model may not be compatible with democracy, as it is recipe for totalitarianism[ 30 ]. Totalitarianism is usually portrayed by the coincidence of authoritarianism, i.e ., state decision-making and ideology are not framed by the ordinary citizens, i.e ., a pervasive scheme of values are announced and promoted by institutional means to control and direct all aspects of life[ 31 ].

Though presumed consent laws have been accepted in Spain and other European nations, they have been consistently rejected in the United States. Presumed consent has been considered in the United States, but not beyond initial considerations. The Ethics Committee of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) developed a white paper on presumed consent in 1993[ 32 ] and repeated those findings in 2005. It noted there was no clarity whether a large proportion of the population was primed for this type of system. At least three states, Delaware, Colorado, and New York, have considered modifying their laws to presumed consent stances (Nytimes.com 2010), but these efforts quickly fizzled out.

EXPLICIT CONSENT

WHO defines explicit consent is defined as a system in which “cells, tissues or organs may be removed from a deceased person if the person had expressly consented to such removal during his or her lifetime”[ 12 ].

Explicit consent policies require an individual to “opt-in” by proactively stating their wishes to be a donor such as signing a donor card or clearly accepting a donor status on a driver’s license. Any person 16 years age and above, may consent, in writing with a signature at any time. Verbal consent is also permissible in the presence of a least two witnesses during the person’s last illness. The consent has to specify that the person’s organs can be used post-mortem for therapeutic purposes, medical and scientific education or research[ 33 ].

Explicit consent is recorded as advanced directives on state registries, by the issue of donor cards, and on the driving license. If one does not explicitly consent to donate on the form, the default setting is that one has not consented at all. Many people, however, do not record their decision to donate. Unfortunately, many organs are buried rather than donated. This is because potential donors and their families believe that the organ distribution system is unfair and potential donors may receive less aggressive medical care[ 34 ]. In the United States, African Americans, Catholics and Hispanics are less likely to be registered as organ donors[ 35 ].

Issues with registering explicit consent at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) include inertia and people’s predictable bias towards choosing options that require least effort where they are just trying to complete the license application process[ 36 ]. Most people find the DMV to be either stressful or simply an unpleasant place to be. After waiting for a long time to be seen, it is easy to become tired, eager to leave, anxious, frustrated, and even angry[ 37 ]. Some, rationally or not, may fear that they might bring about their own death through a motor vehicle accident by deciding to donate at the DMV. Individuals are isolated from connections to family members and other trusted and beloved people whom they would want to be present when making an important decision regarding their death[ 38 ]. Even when people do opt in by checking off “donor” on their driver’s license, OPOs will often follow the negative wishes of the family of the deceased, overriding a recorded decision to donate[ 36 , 39 ].

However, by the end of 2013, with increasing awareness and education, 117.1 million people in the United States enrolled in state donor registries. This represents 48% of all United State residents age 18 and over[ 40 ].

Donate Life Statistics state that 76% of Australians have pointed out that they are willing to become organ and tissue donors[ 41 ]. In 2013, the Australian donor rate was 16.9 donors per million people[ 41 ]. The Australian organ donation outcome in 2013 was 10% higher than in 2012[ 42 ]. If the family is aware that the deceased was likely to consent to organ donation, then they are more likely to donate. Ninety-three percent of Australians stated that they would certainly endorse their loved one’s wishes if they knew what the wishes were[ 41 ].

ORGAN TRADE

In the United States, Anatomical Gift Act and the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984, prohibit the buying and selling of organs[ 43 , 44 ]. Unfortunately, illegal organ trade and transplant tourism still persist in many other countries despite many laws made and enforced against it[ 45 ]. The organ vendors are promised paltry sums of money, and they are frequently deceived out of some of the procurement fee. The surgery for organ procurement and the post-transplant care is often substandard[ 46 , 47 ]. Paid vendors experience social stigma for having sold a part of their body as well as emotional and physical damage[ 46 , 47 ].

If a person owns her body, then she has the right to autonomy, i.e ., to sell her body parts. Limits on autonomy are placed to protect individuals from themselves. A good example would be that we do not allow individuals to be slaves so that the moral dignity of the individual is preserved[ 48 ]. Additionally, it be possible that the individual is acting involuntarily or is being coerced due to circumstances that are unfair[ 49 ]. Respect for autonomy[ 50 ] permits one to question an individual’s decision when it is against the individual’s best interest. An individual may make a decision that is contrary to his or her own interest due to miscalculation, coercion, undue influence or simply misinformation. Though the organ vendor harms himself, and this harm is not inflicted on others, we as a human society, place ourselves in a substandard position, if we allow vulnerable persons to sell their body organs on the grounds of commodification[ 49 ].

Transplant tourism results in corruption, coercion and crowding out[ 51 ]. It enhances corruption by allowing the sale of organs to go forward in that it may “dehumanize society by viewing human beings and their parts as mere commodities”[ 52 ]. Crowding Out occurs by allowing the sale of organs which will cause individuals who would have donated organs to instead sell them, thus reducing the number of donated organs, or it will cause individuals to refuse to donate at all, leading to an overall reduction in procured organs[ 53 ]. Organ brokers or recipients often coerce poor sellers, who have no other reasonable economic alternative, to sell their organs[ 54 ].

In May 2008, The Transplantation Society and the International Society of Nephrology convened an international summit meeting on organ trafficking and transplant tourism in Istanbul. More than 150 professionals from 78 countries attended this meeting. The text of the Declaration of Istanbul (DoI) on Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism was published simultaneously in “Transplantation”, and “The Lancet”. In 2010, the World Health Assembly updated WHO’s guiding principles on human cell, tissue and organ transplantation to add principles aimed at vigilance and safety in transplantation and at ensuring transparency in organ procurement and allocation[ 55 ].

Several professional and governmental bodies voluntarily adhere to the principles of the DoI and WHO. The DoI and WHO guidelines have also been incorporated into national laws and regulations[ 56 ]. In 2008, the Government of India amended and fortified its Transplantation of Human Organs Act[ 57 ]. In Philippines, Anti-Human Trafficking Law was launched in June 2009[ 58 ]. Pakistan and Egypt also passed similar laws in 2010[ 59 , 60 ]. Latin American Society of Nephrology[ 61 ], and the Society of Transplantation of Latin America and Caribbean, have endorsed the DoI[ 61 , 62 ]. In 2012, Brazil specifically mentioned the DoI in its national regulations[ 63 ]. UNOS policy based on the DoI requires all non-United States citizen transplant waiting-list registrants to specify whether the United States is their primary place of residence or whether they have come to the United States for the purpose of transplantation or any other reason[ 64 ].

PRISONERS AS ORGAN DONORS OR RECIPIENTS

The United States Constitution’s Eight Amendment states that inmates have a right to healthcare. Some argue that prisoners are less deserving for consideration as transplant recipients. Many contend that it is a poor use of a limited resource, since a prisoner, whose life is saved by transplant, may re-enter a life of crime. Should a prisoner’s right to transplant depend on the nature of the crime or the terms of his/her incarceration-such as white-collar crimes against capital crimes, or first time offenders vs repeat offenders?

Donation benefits both prisoner as well as society by compensating for crimes against society. It would give the prisoner an opportunity to prove to himself and others that he can do something worthwhile. On the other hand, prison environment may prohibit free and voluntary consent. Reduction of sentence for organ donation could be misused as a form of coercion. It may be more acceptable if the decision to donate was made before the prisoners conviction and that the organs to go the recipient via UNOS matchlist. But then, would the recipient agree to accept the organs if he/she was aware that the donor was a prisoner on a death row sentence? In April 2011, MSNBC news conducted a survey in which almost 80% of 86736 voters responded “yes” to the question, “Should death row inmates be allowed to donate their organs?”[ 65 ]. Patients would appreciate it, e.g ., Patients on Dukes Lung Transplant List were asked whether they would accept lungs from a death row inmate if the organ was good, and 75% replied in the affirmative[ 65 ].

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

The UNOS Ethics Committee defines financial incentives as any material gain or valuable consideration obtained by those directly consenting to the process of organ procurement, whether it be the organ donor himself (in advance of his demise), the donor’s estate, or the donor’s family[ 66 ].

Financial Incentives can be direct or indirect. Regulated organ sale, tax credits, etc ., are some of the direct financial incentives. Reimbursement for funeral expense, life and disability insurance are some indirect financial incentives[ 67 ]. For living donors, incentives could include: tax credit, long-term health care, tuition or job training; employment; or payment[ 68 ]. The convention on human rights and biomedicine of the Council of Europe has favored compensation for donor expenses incurred[ 69 ]. This has also been supported by the World Medical Association[ 70 ] and the WHO[ 12 ]. Several United States states have passed legislations that provide paid leave to organ and bone marrow donors. The laws also offer tax benefits for live and deceased organ donations and to employers of donors. However, a study stated that these provisions did not significantly impact the quantity of organs donated[ 71 ].

Some believe that financial incentives will increase the supply of organs. A form of “donor insurance”, has been suggested. In this method, a person agrees in advance to organ donation after his or her death. Payment is made to his beneficiaries or his estate after the donation[ 66 ]. Financial incentives are also rationalized based on whether they pertain to obligatory or supererogatory altruism. To charge money for one’s organ would be wrong if an altruistic kidney donation were morally obligatory. On the other hand, if altruistic donation were supererogatory, then to charge money for one’s organ would not be wrong. Rather, demanding money would be non-supererogatory. It would be categorized as perhaps not good, but not wrong, and morally permissible[ 72 ].

Decreased emotional gain for the donor family, decreased respect for the sanctity of the human body and life itself, and a loss of the personal touch that currently exists in the altruistic donation process are some of the reasons cited for opposing the provision of financial incentives. There is also a fear of creation of organ markets where the poor would be harvested for the rich. Financial approaches to organ donation may start “the ultimate slide down the slippery slope” - i.e ., the human body actually becoming a commodity to be bought, sold and exchanged for in a manner similar to any other good or service[ 66 ].

Financial incentives are officially permissible in Iran. A controlled living unrelated kidney donors (LURDs) transplant program has been initiated. If the patient has no living related donor, she is referred to The Kidney Foundation of Iran to find a suitable LURD. The Iranian Society of Organ Transplantation monitors this program to ensure that there is no broker introducing donors to recipients, nor there is any transplant tourism[ 73 ]. In Iran, this program has been effective in reducing the kidney transplant waitlist[ 74 ]. The kidney donors register in the Dialysis and Transplant Patients Association. After the donation, they are rewarded with the equivalent of $ 1200 United States dollars and 1 year of medical insurance by the government[ 75 ].

In Philippines, from 2002 to 2008, a regulated system of incentives for living organ donors was implemented[ 76 ]. The program offered a sizable “gratuity package”. Transparency, ethics, monitoring of transplant facilities and maintaining a donor registry was mandated. Unfortunately, the intended outcomes differed from reality. The black market was not eliminated and organ brokers or middlemen continued to be involved[ 77 ].

In 2010, China launched a financial incentives compensation policy in five pilot provinces and cities. Two forms were considered for financial compensation. The “thank you” form expresses gratitude on behalf of the Red Cross Society of China for subscription to organ donation. The “help” form is social welfare support for underprivileged families[ 78 ]. This initiative has been criticized due to involvement of an extremely vulnerable group. Additionally, there was no public campaign to endorse social change making this new initiative ethically objectionable[ 79 ].

In 2012, The Working Group on Incentives for Living Donation developed guidelines for development of a regulated system of incentives for living and deceased donation. These guidelines state that each country should have a regulatory and legal framework for implementing incentives and the entire process must be transparent and overseen by international and governmental authorities[ 68 ].

NON-FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

The Israeli Organ Transplant Law is a novel approach to increase supply of organ to meet the escalating demands. Historically, Israel’s organ donation rate was very low. Jewish law condemns violation of the dead. This has been interpreted that Judaism prohibits organ donation. Rabbinic issues surrounded the concept of brain death. Thus, many patients died waiting for organs. But in the Talmud, saving a life supersedes almost everything. Many commandments may be overstepped if saving a life is the goal. Therefore, it could be argued that organ donation actually fulfills a very high religious virtue[ 80 ].

So Israel decided to implement a new approach and became the first country in the world to incorporate “nonmedical” criteria into the priority system based on medical criteria. In 2008 two new laws relevant to organ transplantation were introduced. The Brain-Respiratory Death Law defines the precise circumstances and mechanisms to determine brain death. The Organ Transplantation Law bans reimbursing transplant tourism involving organ trade. Registered donors are given priority for organs, should they ever need one. Disincentives for living donation are removed by providing insurance reimbursement and social supportive services[ 81 ].

First priority is granted to candidates whose first-degree relatives donated organs after death. It is also granted to candidates who have been themselves have registered as kidney or liver-lobe donors. Second priority is granted to candidates who have registered as organ donors at least 3 years prior of being listed. Third priority to candidates whose first-degree relatives have registered as organ donors at least 3 years prior to their listing[ 82 ]. A Parliamentary amendment was recently made to this clause that has broadened the prioritization to any living donor. Prior kidney, liver lobe or lung lobe donors, who now need an organ, are granted first priority in the allocation of these organs[ 83 ].

This law is based on the ethical principle of reciprocal altruism[ 84 ] where by those in the society who are willing to help others will in turn be helped. This effectively works as an incentive for many to become registered donors[ 82 ]. It also derives some features from UNOS policy, which allows living donors of organs priority to receive a transplant from a deceased donor should they ever need one[ 85 ]. The Singapore’s Human Organ Transplant Act grants priority to a person who did not register any objection in respect of organ donation vs organ allocation over a person who has opted out from organ donation[ 86 ].

This law has been criticized on ethical grounds, as one’s chances of obtaining priority points may potentially increase with greater number of first-degree relatives and may be disadvantageous to those with fewer siblings. Additionally, it introduces the potential for individuals to register solely to assure priority points in the future, while advising their families to decline donation in the event of their death[ 87 ].

When this law was implemented, an organ donation public awareness campaign was also launched. Television, radio, billboard and newspaper advertisements were introduced promoting the new priority system. The perception that Jewish law forbids donation was countered. Shopping centers and coffee houses were overwhelmed with information regarding organ donation. This resulted in an overwhelming response from the Israeli population. Seventy thousand Israelis registered for organ donation cards within the first 10 wk of the campaign[ 80 ]. In 2011, the Israeli organ donation rate increased from 7.8 to 11.4 donors per million populations[ 81 ]. Israeli transplant tourism to China to receive organs has now ceased[ 88 ].

The gap between organ demand and supply is forever widening. It is essential to review ethical facets of every new law, strategy or policy initiated to increase the organ donation. Ethical reflections of organ donation quandaries promote and advance this field in a bioethical manner that ultimately benefits humanity and the well-being of the society.

Conflict-of-interest: None.

Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Peer-review started: August 21, 2014

First decision: September 16, 2014

Article in press: March 18, 2015

P- Reviewer: Gordon CR, Zielinski T S- Editor: Gong XM L- Editor: A E- Editor: Wu HL

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Student Reflections on the Study of Anatomy

Letter: to the family of our donor, prayer: a student's prayer and reflection, art: handed, letter: a second-year’s comments to the incoming class, letter: the guide, art: anatomy wings, art: a quilt, art: the giving hand (by md-phd student agnieszka brojakowska), art: untitled (by md student lenique huggins), art: untitled (by md-phd student josef alavi), art: layer by layer(by md student hye young choi), art: peritoneal pipelines (by md student william baker).

We are writing to you to express our gratitude for the gift your family member made to our medical educations and lives. We will be remembering and acknowledging the generosity of your loved one at a Service of Gratitude at the Yale Medical School. This service is organized each year to give medical and physician associate students the opportunity to express the emotions and thoughts they have about the relationship we have formed over the past few months.

It is difficult to express the many ways in which these individuals have touched our lives. They have been profound and inspiring teachers as well as friends to us. This experience is like no other in medicine, and we are humbled by their decision. A great privilege has been given to us by these individuals, and we will go into the field of medicine with a heightened sense of duty and gratitude because of them.

Though we understand it is difficult to lose a loved one, we hope that it will be of some small comfort that we will carry the lessons we have learned about the human body and spirit from your family member forward into our careers. These lessons will improve our medical judgment and our relationships with our patients. We are also mindful of the sacrifice that you have made and of the emotions you may feel about this process. We appreciate your understanding and patience.

Again, we would like to acknowledge the tremendous gift your family member selflessly volunteered. We will remember them with great respect and admiration for the choice they made.

Psalm 139: 1-5, 13-16 “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. (13) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderfully, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

Through my experience in anatomy lab, I have come to a deeper understanding of what this passage means. I am so thankful that my cadaver donated her body so that I could have first hand experience with the intricacies of the human body. I was able to see how the body was perfectly woven together. I have a renewed understanding of the sanctity of life and of the complexity of the human body. I also have a deeper grasp on the responsibility that comes with being a health care provider as I try to refine and ‘fix’ this incredibly designed structure. I am so thankful for the opportunity to see how we truly are fearfully and wonderfully made.

I call this drawing “Handed”, to convey the notion that we teach and learn through our hands. The object being handed from one hand to the other is a dodecahedron (a twelve sided geometric figure composed entirely of pentagons.) It was conceived of over 1500 years ago by the Pythagoreans, who regarded it as their most cherished secret. To them it represented what they called the Fifth Element, a fundamental energy that bound the other four elements together. Learning its precise method of construction was the final rite of initiation into this elite group of scholars.

Almost a millennium later, Leonardo da Vinci popularized the dodecahedron not as a mystical force, but rather as a symbol of enlightenment and learning. Renaissance artists were intrigued by this particular shape because inherent to its form is the ratio of 1.618 to 1, also known as the Golden Ratio. This ratio is often found in the human body, especially the face and hands. The dodecahedron in this drawing as well as the hands grasping it were all created using the same “golden” proportions and spatial relationships.

Through its historical and mathematical references, this work can be thought of as an allegory of teaching and learning. Specifically in the anatomy lab, knowledge is imparted through two distinct relationships: The horizontal view of this drawing acknowledges the teacher student relationship, while the vertical view is intended to pay homage to the relationship between student and donor.

This encounter with the deceased was a first for me and I nervously wondered whether that first reaction would be telling of my character; will I cry, will I display humor, or will I be indifferent?? Should I cry, should I laugh or should I be indifferent??

Who was to know??

That’s when I quickly decided that for me to become comfortable in the unsettling atmosphere of death and dying, I needed to give my fears, concerns and curiosities their due share to be expressed. These “reactions” are after all an integral part of my being; and allowing their expression without debating their “Appropriateness” will help me determine how to emotionally manage my intimate encounters with death, in ways that blend my humanity with the expertise that I will have as a caregiver.

I assure you that after some time the initial nervousness and apprehension will turn into fascination and a great appreciation for the intricacies of the human body and for the fragility of life. And I also assure you that this transition from anguish and conflict to excitement and anticipation brings with it great new challenges. You’ll quickly realize that in anatomy lab, an interesting meeting is always taking place, between us freshly entering the practice of medicine and our donors who have actually exhausted its care. This continued meeting quickly highlights the fact that we have so much to learn.

Indeed our interactions with our donors force us to tackle one of our greatest fears and humble us by reminding us of our vulnerabilities, of our imperfections in knowledge and of the humanity in our disposition. Our donors choose to assist in our learning by donating their most valuable possession; by giving of themselves. And that beyond guiding our functional understanding of anatomy, they also leave a legacy that transcends time to live as a unique experience in each of us; a legacy that enables us to reflect on life and its antithesis, and helps us recognize that while we are all built on the same, single plan each of us asserts an individuality through our unique deviations from the norm. Our donors tell us about their lives through their unique features. Through their enlarged hearts, varied vascular patterns, surgical scars and pacemakers, they help us frame our observations; And with each discovery they guide us towards an integrated understanding of the structure and function of anatomy.

So It’s certainly okay for us to feel apprehension and anguish OR to feel excitement and anticipation; but irrespective of the emotions, it is important for us to recognize the privilege in the opportunity we are presented with and to be grateful for the enormous generosity and courage of our donors; and that beyond our temporary time in anatomy lab, each of us will carry a unique meaning associated with our experience.

In anatomy programs and among incoming students there is often talk of cadavers, or donors, as the “first patients” that a medical novice will encounter. But this characterization – with its implication of service or care on the part of the student – bears little resemblance to the actual relationship that materializes in the gross anatomy lab. From awkward laughter, to misplaced elbows, to interposing thoughts of when dinner and gym time will be – there is really not much directly gained by way of a template for future clinical interactions. Dissection is in many ways an act that pushes the limits of normal human behavior and decency. But it must certainly not become a hardening experience, a right of passage that releases upon the world legions of future knife wielders and pill pushers – inured to the suffering of their fellows. Were it not for our conscious appreciation of the generous wishes of these individuals who choose to donate themselves to Yale, there would be something perverse in learning to cut without hope of a therapeutic outcome.

No, my donor was not my first patient, but rather one of my first and best teachers – a willing guide and a paramount model of the sacrifices that we must all learn to make if we wish to effect real differences in the lives of the future patients that we will touch and talk to, anaesthetize and operate upon. Death is for the most part a private thing, and I believe that the willingness to share ones dead self for didactic purposes is a noble thing. My donor had a lot to say. He told me about the beauty and mystery of the human body, about a miraculous design and the pain that it can bring when things go wrong. I can only hope I will find the courage to give of myself to some degree of how he has given for me.

by MD-PhD student Agnieszka Brojakowska

Each of our unique journeys has led us to a career focused on improving the quality of life for individuals and populations. This path constitutes a life-long commitment to selflessness. Yet, taking the time to thank others whose contributions supported our growth is imperative. Mainly, I ask that we remember and honor the donors who have perhaps performed the most selfless act. They have gifted and entrusted their vulnerable bodies, the reservoir of their life, simply for our learning. While we could do no direct harm, we respected the individual in front of us, appreciated the diversity and beauty of the human anatomy, and forever will seek the guidance of their gift with each patient before us.

by MD student Lenique Huggins

by MD-PhD student Josef Alavi

by MD student Hye Young Choi

Essay on Organ Donation

Students are often asked to write an essay on Organ Donation in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Organ Donation

What is organ donation.

Organ donation is when a person allows their organs to be given to someone who needs them after they die. The organs can be the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, or intestines. Giving an organ can save the life of someone with a sick organ that doesn’t work well.

Who Can Donate?

Almost anyone can be an organ donor. Adults and, with parent’s permission, children can choose to donate. Doctors check if the donor’s organs are healthy enough to be given to another person.

The Process of Donating

When a person dies, doctors see if they can donate. If yes, the organs are taken out carefully and quickly given to patients who need them. The donor’s family does not have to pay for this.

The Need for Donors

Many people are waiting for an organ, but there aren’t enough donors. More donors mean more people can get the help they need. It’s important to talk with your family about your choice to donate.

Organ donation is a kind act that can save lives. If you decide to be a donor, you could help someone else live a longer, healthier life after you’re gone.

Also check:

• Speech on Organ Donation

250 Words Essay on Organ Donation

Organ donation is when a person allows their organs to be given to someone else who needs them after they die. Sometimes, living people can also give one of their kidneys or a part of their liver to help another person.

Why is Organ Donation Important?

Organ donation is very important because it can save lives. Many people are sick with organs that do not work well, and they need new ones to become healthy again. Without new organs, these people might not live for very long.

Almost anyone can be an organ donor. It does not matter how old you are or what your background is. The most important thing is that the organs are healthy. Doctors check this very carefully before they put the organs into another person’s body.

How to Become a Donor

To become an organ donor, you can sign up on a special list or tell your family about your wish to donate. This way, if something happens to you, the doctors will know that you want to give your organs to help others.

Respect and Care

When organs are taken from a donor, doctors treat the donor with a lot of respect and care. The donor’s family is also given support during this tough time.

In summary, organ donation is a generous act that can give someone a second chance at life. It is a simple process to sign up, and it shows a big heart to help others in need.

500 Words Essay on Organ Donation

Organ donation is a kind act where a person allows their organs to be moved into another person’s body. When someone’s organ, like their heart or kidney, stops working well, they might need a new one. Organ donation is a way to give them a healthy organ. This can save their lives or help them feel better.

Almost anyone can choose to donate their organs. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what your background is. When a person decides to donate their organs, doctors will check to make sure the organs are healthy and can help someone else. There are two times when a person can donate: when they are still alive or after they pass away. Living people can donate parts of their liver, one kidney, or a piece of their lung. After a person dies, they can donate many organs if they said yes to donation before.

Organ donation is very important because it can save lives. Many people are waiting for an organ, and sometimes they have to wait a long time. Without a new organ, these people might not survive. By donating organs, you can help them live longer and enjoy life with their families and friends.

How Do You Become a Donor?

To become an organ donor, you need to tell others that you want to donate. You can do this by signing up on a special list or telling your family about your choice. It’s also a good idea to carry a card in your wallet that says you are a donor. This way, if something happens to you, doctors will know that you want to give your organs to help others.

The Process of Donation

If a person who wants to donate their organs passes away, doctors will check if their organs are still healthy. If they are, the organs are carefully taken out and kept in a special way so they stay healthy. Then, the organs are quickly taken to the person who needs them. Doctors will do an operation to put the new organ in the person’s body.

Concerns and Myths

Some people are worried about donating their organs. They might think that doctors won’t try to save their lives if they are donors, but this isn’t true. Doctors always work hard to save every person’s life. Another worry is about how the body will look after donation. The truth is, doctors are very careful, and the body will look the same as before.

Organ donation is a very special choice that can make a big difference in someone’s life. It’s a way to show kindness and help others even after you’re gone. By learning about organ donation and talking to your family, you can decide if it’s right for you. Remember, your choice to donate your organs could be the reason someone else gets to live a longer and happier life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Oral Communication
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January 13, 2023 in About Donation , Our Partners

How Do I Donate My Body to Science After Death?

While LifeSource does not coordinate whole body donation – donation exclusively for research and education purposes – we are often asked about it. Here is some information for those interested in whole body donation.

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What is Donating Your Body to Science?

Donating your body to science, also known as whole body donation, is an anatomical donation after death that does not involve transplant but is needed for advancement in research and education. To participate in a whole body donation program, also known as an Anatomy Bequest Program, the individual will have had to complete a registration or authorization form (separate from organ donor registration) prior to death with the program of their choosing. 

Can I be Both an Organ Donor and a Whole Body Donor?

It varies depending on the Anatomy Bequest Program that you choose. Some  programs require that the deceased donor is unaltered after death to be accepted into the program. Other programs will work with donor organizations to facilitate any opportunity for transplantable donation as well as accepting the whole body donation.

I am Interested in Signing Up. Now What?

Whether you register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor , sign up for whole body donation, or both, the most important first step is tell your family about your decision. Before registering for whole body donation, it is important that you research the criteria for acceptance, if they allow you to donate for transplant (if that is your intention) and to find out which organization is the best fit for you.

Whole Body Donation Programs in Our Service Area

University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program   (612) 625-1111 Mayo Clinic Anatomy Department Program (507) 284-2693

North Dakota

University of North Dakota School of Medicine Deeded Body Program (701) 777-2101

South Dakota

University of South Dakota Body Bequest Program (605) 677-5254

University of Wisconsin Madison (608) 262-2888 Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee (414) 456-8261

Organ Donation Essay

Table of Contents

Organ donation has proved to be a miracle for the society. Organs such as kidneys, heart, eyes, liver, small intestine, bone tissues, skin tissues and veins are donated for the purpose of transplantation. The donor gives a new life to the recipient by the way of this noble act. Organ donation is encouraged worldwide. The government of different countries have put up different systems in place to encourage organ donation. However, the demand for organs is still quite high as compared to their supply. Effective steps must be taken to meet this ever-increasing demand.

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Long and Short Essay on Organ Donation in English

We have provided below short and long essay on organ donation in simple English for your information and knowledge.

After going through the essays you will know the significance of organ donation for someone in need, the procedure involved, under what circumstances is it illegal to donate an organ and what are safe physical criterion for organ donation.

You can use these organ donation essay in your school college events wherein you need to give a speech, write an essay or take part in debate.

Essay on Organ Donation in 200 words

Organ donation is done by both living and deceased donors. The living donors can donate one of the two kidneys, a lung or a part of a lung, one of the two lobes of their liver, a part of the intestines or a part of the pancreas. While a deceased donor can donate liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, pancreas, cornea tissue, skin tissue, tendons and heart valves.

The organ donation process varies from country to country. The process has broadly been classified into two categories – Opt in and Opt out. Under the opt-in system, one is proactively required to register for donation of his/ her organs while in the opt-out system, every individual becomes a donor post death unless he/she opts-out of it.

There is a huge demand for organs. It is sad how several people in different parts of the world die each year waiting for organ transplant. The governments of different countries are taking steps to raise the supply of organs and in certain parts the number of donors has increased. However, the requirement of organs has simultaneously increased at a much rapid speed.

Each one of us should come forward and register to donate organs after death. “Be an organ donor, all it costs is a little love”.

Also Check: Essay on Organ Trafficking

Essay on Organ Donation in 300 words

Organ donation takes place when an organ of a person’s body is removed with his consent while he is alive or with the consent of his family member after his death for the purpose of research or transplant. Kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, bones, bone marrow, corneas, intestines and skin are transplanted to give new life to the receiver.

Organ Donation Process

• Living Donors

Living donors require undergoing thorough medical tests before organ donation. This also includes psychological evaluation of the donor to ensure whether he understands the consequences of donation and truly consents for it.

• Deceased Donors

In case of the deceased donors, it is first verified that the donor is dead. The verification of death is usually done multiple times by a neurologist. It is then determined if any of his/ her organs can be donated.

After death, the body is kept on a mechanical ventilator to ensure the organs remain in good condition. Most organs work outside the body only for a couple of hours and thus it is ensured that they reach the recipient immediately after removal.

Gap between Demand and Supply

The demand for organs is considerably higher than the number of donors around the world. Each year several patients die waiting for donors. Statistics reveal that in India against an average annual demand for 200,000 kidneys, only 6,000 are received. Similarly, the average annual demand for hearts is 50,000 while as low as 15 of them are available.

The need for organ donation needs to be sensitized among the public to increase the number of donors. The government has taken certain steps such as spreading awareness about the same by way of TV and internet. However, we still have a long way to go.

Organ donation can save a person’s life. Its importance must not be overlooked. A proper system should be put in place for organ donation to encourage the same.

Essay on Organ Donation in 400 words

Organ donation is the process of allowing organ or tissue to be removed surgically from one person to place it in another person or to use it for research purpose. It is done by the consent of donor in case he is alive or by the consent of next of kin after death. Organ donation is encouraged worldwide.

Kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, bones, bone marrow, skin, pancreas, corneas, intestines and skin are commonly used for transplantation to render new life to the recipient. Organ donation is mostly done after the donor’s death. However, certain organs and tissues such as a kidney, lobe of a lung, portion of the liver, intestine or pancreas can be donated by living donors as well.

Organ Donation Consent Process

There are two types of consents when it comes to organ donation. These are the explicit consent and the presumed consent.

• Explicit Consent: Under this the donor provides a direct consent through registration and carrying out other required formalities based on the country.
• Presumed Consent: This does not include a direct consent from the donor or the next of kin. As the name suggests, it is assumed that the donation would have been allowed by the potential donor in case consent was pursued.

Among the possible donors approximately twenty five percent of the families deny donation of their loved one’s organs.

Organ Donation in India

• Legalised by Law

Organ donations are legal as per the Indian law. The Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994 enacted by the government of India permits organ donation and legalizes the concept of brain death.

• Documentation and Formalities

The donor is required to fill a prescribed form. The same can be taken from the hospital or other medical facility approached for organ donation or can be downloaded from the ministry of health and family welfare government of India’s website.

In case of a deceased donor, a written consent from the lawful custodian is required in the prescribed application form.

As is the case with the rest of the world, the demand of organs in India is much higher compared to their supply. There is a major shortage of donated organs in the country. Several patients are on the wait list and many of them succumb to death waiting for organ transplant.

The government of India is making efforts to spread awareness about organ transplant to encourage the same. However, it needs to take effective steps to raise the number of donors.

Essay on Organ Donation in 500 words

Organ donation refers to the process of giving organs or tissues to a living recipient who requires a transplant. Organ donation is mostly done after death. However, certain organs can be donated even by a living donor.

The organs that are mostly used for the purpose of transplant include kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, intestines, lungs, bones and bone marrow. Each country follows its own procedure for organ donation. Here is a look at how different countries encourage and process organ donation.

Organ Donation Process – Opt In and Opt Out

While certain countries follow the organ donation opt-in procedure others have the opt-out procedure in place. Here is a look at the difference between these two processes of organ donation:

• Opt In System: In the opt-in system, people are required to proactively sign up for the donation of their organs after death.
• Opt Out System: Under this system, organ donation automatically occurs unless a person specifically makes a request to opt out before death.

Organ Donation in Different Countries

India follows the opt-in system when it comes to organ donation. Anyone who wishes to donate organs needs to fill a prescribed form available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India’s website.

In order to control organ commerce and encourage donation after brain death, the government of India came up with the law, The Transplantation of Human Organs Act in the year 1994. This brought about a considerable change in terms of organ donation in the country.

Spain is known to be the world leader in organ donations. It follows the opt-out system for organ donation.

• United States

The need for organs in the United States is growing at a rapid pace. Though there has been a rise in the number of organ donors, however, the number of patients waiting for the organs has increased at a much higher rate. Organ donation in the United States is done only with the consent of the donor or their family. However, several organizations here are pushing for the opt-out organ donation.

• United Kingdom

Organ donation in the United Kingdom is voluntary. Individuals who want to donate their organs after death can register for the same.

This is the only country that has been able to overcome the shortage of transplant organs. It has a legal payment system for organ donation and is also the only country that has legalized organ trade.

Organ donation is quite low in Japan as compared to other western countries. This is mainly due to cultural reasons, distrust in western medicines and a controversial organ transplant that took place in 1968.

In Columbia, the ‘Law 1805’ passed in August 2016, introduced the opt-out policy for organ donation.

Chile opted for the opt-out policy for organ donation under the, ‘Law 20,413’ wherein all the citizens above the age of 18 years will donate organs unless they specifically deny it before death.

Most of the countries around the world suffer from low organ donor rate. The issue must be taken more seriously. Laws to increase the rate of organ donation must be put in place to encourage the same.

Essay on Organ Donation in 600 words

Organ Donation is the surgical removal of a living or dead donor’s organs to place them in the recipient to render him/her a new life. Organ donation has been encouraged worldwide. However, the demand of human organs far outweighs the supply. Low rate of organ donation around the world can be attributed to various reasons. These reasons are discussed below in detail.

Teleological Issues

The moral status of the black market organ donation is debatable. While some argue in favour of it others are absolutely against the concept. It has been seen that those who donate their organs are generally from the poor section of the society and those who can afford these are quite well off. There is thus an imbalance in the trade.

It has been observed that those who can purchase the organs are taking advantage of the ones who are desperate to sell. This is said to be one of the reasons for the rising inequality of status between the rich and the poor. On the other hand, it is argued that those who want to sell their organs should be allowed to do so as preventing them from it is only contributing to their status as impoverished. Those who are in favour of the organ trade also argue that exploitation is preferable to death and hence organ trade must be legalized. However, as per a survey, later in life the living donors regret their decision of donating their organs.

Several cases of organ theft have also come forward. While those in support of the legalization of organ market say that this happens because of the black market nature of trade while others state that legalizing it would only result in the rise of such crimes as the criminal can easily state that the organ being sold has not been stolen.

Deontological Issues

These are defined by a person’s ethical duty to take action. Almost all the societies in the world believe that donating organs voluntarily is ethically permissible. Many scholars believe that everyone should donate their organs after death.

However, the main issue from the standpoint of deontological ethics is the debate over the definitions of life, death, body and human. It has been argued that organ donation is an act of causing self harm. The use of cloning to come up with organs with a genotype identical to the recipient is another controversial topic.

Xenotransplantation which is the transfer of animal organs into human bodies has also created a stir. Though this has resulted in increased supply of organs it has also received a lot of criticism. Certain animal rights groups have opposed the sacrifice of animals for organ donation. Campaigns have been launched to ban this new field of transplantation.

Religious Issues

Different religious groups have different viewpoints regarding organ donation. The Hindu religion does not prohibit people from donating organs. The advocates of the Hindu religion state that it is an individual choice. Buddhists share the same view point.

The Catholics consider it as an act of love and charity. It is morally and ethically acceptable as per them. The Christian Church, Islam, United Methodists and Judaism encourage organ donation. However, Gypsies tend to oppose it as they believe in afterlife. The Shintos are also against it as they believe that injuring a dead body is a heinous crime.

Apart from this, the political system of a country also impacts organ donation. The organ donation rate can increase if the government extends proper support. There needs to be a strong political will to ensure rise in the transplant rate. Specialized training, care, facilities and adequate funding must be provided to ensure a rise.

The demand for organs has always been way higher than their supply due to the various issues discussed above. There is a need to focus on these issues and work upon them in order to raise the number of organ donors.

Essay on Organ Donation FAQs

How do you write an organ donation essay.

To write an organ donation essay, start with an introduction explaining its importance, discuss benefits, address common concerns, and conclude with a call to action for readers to consider becoming donors.

What is a short note on organ donation?

Organ donation involves willingly giving one's organs after death to save lives. It's a selfless act that can bring hope and health to those in need.

How important is organ donation?

Organ donation is crucial as it saves lives by providing organs to individuals suffering from organ failure, offering them a chance for a healthier and longer life.

What is the aim of organ donation?

The aim of organ donation is to provide organs and tissues from willing donors to those in need, improving the quality of life and increasing survival rates for recipients.

What are the 4 types of organ donation?

The four types of organ donation include deceased donation (after death), living donation (from a living person), paired exchange (swapping organs between two donor-recipient pairs), and directed donation (to a specific person).

What is the concept of organ donation?

Organ donation is the voluntary act of giving one's organs or tissues to save or enhance the lives of others, often occurring after death or, in some cases, while the donor is still alive.

Which organ Cannot be donated?

The brain cannot be donated for transplantation. While other organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs can be donated, the brain's complex functions make it ineligible for donation.

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Essay on Organ Donation for Students and Children in 1000 Words

In this article, read an essay on organ donation for students and children in 1000 words. It includes meaning, celebration of organ donation day, process, demand, and black market of organ donation.

Table of Contents

Essay on Organ Donation (1000 Words)

Organ donation is a significant donation. It is also said a “reward for life” in other words. By doing this, we can give life to many people.

Nowadays, many prostitutes help in donating organs, encourage it. Nowadays, organs like kidneys, eyes, liver, heart, small intestine, skin tissue are in high demand.

Thousands of people die in an accident in the country every day whose organ donation gives life to other people. Most of the extracted organs are transplanted within 6 to 72 hours. One donor can save eight lives. Donations of liver, kidney, lungs, pancreas, and intestine can be made while alive.

Also read: Essay on Corruption Free India

What is organ donation?

Organ donation is a process in which healthy organs and tissues are taken from a human being (dead and sometimes even alive). Then these organs are transplanted to another needy person. In this way, the life of another person can be saved with organ donation. Organ Donation by One Person Donation made by one person can help 50 needy people.

Organ Donation in India

In India, the percentage of organ donation is deficient according to the population. Every year 5 lakh people in the country die due to lack of organs at the right time. In this, 2 lakh people die due to liver disease. Fifty thousand people die due to vision sickness.

Organ Donation Day Celebration

Organ donation day is celebrated on 13 August every year in government, non-governmental organizations. Institutions such as Gift Ek Jeevan, Mohan Foundation, Gift Your Organ Foundation, Dadhichi Dehdaan Samiti help in organ donation. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi NCR, Punjab are the most donating states in the country.

Major Organs to Donate

Kidney, liver, intestine, blood vessel, intoxication, skin, bones, ligaments (ligaments) heart, pancreas, heart valves (soft bone), blood, platelets, tissue, the cornea (cornea), tendons.

Problems In Organ Donations

The rule is that in the event of a road accident, only those who died in the hospital can be taken part of their logo. Many people die at the accident site. In such a situation, no part can be found from them.

People are not aware yet. Consider it wrong. Many people do not even register to donate organs during their lifetime. People suffering from cancer, AIDS, infection, sepsis, or any serious illness cannot give an organ.

Organ donation process

A. living organ donor.

Comprehensive medical investigations are required before donating organs to living donors. It also includes the psychological evaluation of the donor to ensure that he or she understands the consequences of the donation and wants to consent to it.

b. Dead donor

With deceased donors, it is first verified whether or not the donor is dead. Death is usually confirmed many times by neuro physicians when it is determined that any part of it can be donated.

After death, they placed the body on a mechanical ventilator to ensure that the organ remains in good condition. Most organs function outside the body for only a few hours and thus ensure that they reach the recipient immediately after removal from the body.

Difference between demand and supply

The need for physical organs is much higher than the number of donors around the world. Every year many patients die while waiting for donors.

Statistics show that the average annual kidney demand in India is two lakhs, while only 6 thousand kidneys are received. Similarly, the average annual market for the heart is 50 thousand, whereas only 15 are available.

I order to increase the number of donors for organs; there is a need to create awareness among the public for donating organs.

Towards this end, the government has also taken some steps like spreading awareness through TV and the Internet, though we still have a long way to go to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

The black market of organs selling

On the one hand, where we are promoting organ donation, its theft has also happened a lot. Nowadays, the theft and black marketing of organs has increased in India.

In government-private hospitals, patients’ kidneys (kidneys), and other organs are being stolen from the nexus of the doctors.

Fake Organization

Many such organizations are active in many states who steal the organs of innocent spears. Such theft is done during the operation.

The organs are sold in foreign patients at high prices. A case of fraud continues to be exposed every day. Weak, vulnerable sections become the most victims of it.

People with plentiful money are ready to pay any cost to the limbs to save their lives. Doctors also keep stealing organs by being lured by money. Thousands of foreign patients come to our country every year, which has some part or two.

Flexibility in Law

Taking advantage of the flexible law of organ transplantation in the country, such people gain organs corruptly. Some poor patients sell their organs for money, but some are fraudulently removed.

Price of organs in the black market

Kidney – 5 to 10 lakhs Bone marrow – 2.5 million Surrogacy (rental womb) – 10 to 20 lakhs Lever – 5 to 10 lakh Heart – above 20 lakhs Cornea – 1.5 million One inch skin – according to 42 thousand rupees

What happens to organs?

Doctors quickly transplant these organs into any patients who have already needed them. Organ transplant hospitals have a waiting list. According to him, the organ is put in the patient whose number is there.

The blood group and many other tests are done for matching while performing the organ. If everything is fine, then the organ is put in, and if the match is not there, then it is matched with the next patient on the waiting list.

Time Duration for Transplant

• The liver should be transplanted within 6 hours of removal.
• The kidney should be taken within 12 hours.
• Eyes should be installed within three days.

Organ donation can save a person’s life. Its importance should not be ignored. A proper system should be encouraged to donate the organ. I hope you will like this essay on organ donation.

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Blood Donation Essay for Students and Children

500 words essay on blood donation.

Blood donation refers to a practice where people donate their blood to people so it helps them with their health problems. Blood is one of the most essential fluids of our body that helps in the smooth functioning of our body. If the body loses blood in excessive amounts, people to get deadly diseases and even die. Thus, we see how blood donation is literally life-saving which helps people. It is also a sign of humanity that unites people irrespective of caste, creed, religion and more.

World Blood Donor Day

In order to raise awareness about this life-saving procedure, the world observes 14th June as Blood Donor Day. It promotes blood donation and urges people to save lives by donating blood.

Furthermore, this day is quite an important day as it makes people about safe blood. People need to know the basics to be able to donate blood. For instance, there are certain criteria one must fulfill to donate blood. Not everyone knows that. Thus, this day helps in doing so.

Most importantly, on this day, the WHO organizes a campaign that invites people to donate blood. A person eligible to donate blood must fall in the age bracket of 17-66 years of age. They must weigh more than 50 kgs and have sound health. People suffering from diseases like diabetes, hypertension and more cannot donate blood.

Therefore, on World Blood Donor Day, they also appreciate blood donors for their contribution to making the world a better place.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Benefits of Blood Donation

As we all know by now, blood donation has a lot of benefits. Why a person requires blood has various reasons. It may be an illness or also an accident, nonetheless, it is important. The blood that we donate helps a person in need. It enhances their health condition and makes them overcome their critical situation.

In other words, blood donation does not simply help that specific person but also contributes to a responsible gesture towards society. Moreover, it also enhances the health of the donor. As the cell depletion allows a way for production, not new cells that freshen our body system.

Furthermore, it also revitalizes our body for better health. Next up, a single blood donation helps at least three people in need. Thus, imagine how one donation can make a difference in so many people’s lives.

In addition, blood donation makes the work of blood banks easier. It stabilizes their collection which helps other people get blood urgently. The demand is still higher than the supply in blood banks, so we must donate more and more of it to help people.

Other than that, blood donation also helps us know about our bodies. As a blood donation requires a preliminary health check-up, we get a complete diagnosis. It makes us aware of the levels of iron, hemoglobin, cholesterol and more. Thus, we see that blood donation is an important procedure in saving human life. It is a great initiative that must be encouraged everywhere.

FAQs on Blood Donation Essay

Q.1 When is Blood donor day celebrated and why?

A.1 World Blood Donors Day is celebrated on 14th June to create awareness about blood donation. This day also appreciates the blood donors for their contribution towards society in improving people’s lives.

Q.2 Why is donating blood beneficial?

A.2 Donating blood is very beneficial for the donor as well as the acceptor. It saves lives and helps people overcome their critical situation. The blood donor’s body gets revitalized and generates new cells which freshen it up.

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Should Kidney Donors Be Paid?

A guest essay argued in favor of payments. Readers, including donors, offer divergent views.

To the Editor:

Re “ We Should Be Allowed to Sell Our Kidneys ,” by Dylan Walsh (Opinion guest essay, April 4):

I’ve seen firsthand how kidney transplants can transform the lives of patients living with debilitating renal disease who are often forced to spend hours each week in painful and exhausting dialysis treatments. Mr. Walsh is correct that we need to greatly boost the number of living organ donors. But before we consider paying people for their kidneys, we need to ensure that every potential donor has an equitable chance to also receive a lifesaving organ transplant.

Even though undocumented people can and do donate organs, far too many of the undocumented, Black and low-income clients we serve with severe renal disease are unable to receive treatment at transplant centers run by private hospitals, despite many of them being excellent medical candidates for a successful transplant.

It would be grossly unethical for our government to encourage them to sell their organs when they receive far less than an equitable share of needed organs.

There are many steps the federal and state governments can take to gather data on transplant equity and require tax-exempt health systems to provide fair and equitable access to transplant care, regardless of immigration or insurance status, income or race. We must create a fair system before we consider a market for organs.

Karina Albistegui Adler New York The writer is co-director of health justice for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

As president of the American Society of Transplantation, I know there is an extreme need for additional organs to support lifesaving organ transplantation. Dylan Walsh aptly describes the challenge.

We at the A.S.T. support the author’s intent to increase living donation. However, A.S.T. policy opposes direct remuneration for organs, as it would encourage donations for financial rather than altruistic reasons, thereby propagating disparities. Instead, we aim to remove disincentives that prevent living donors from providing a lifesaving gift.

The A.S.T. is advancing effective solutions. The Living Donor Protection Act , which ensures that life, disability and long-term care insurers cannot discriminate against living donors, has bipartisan support. Other legislation provides a one-time tax credit for living donors that would offset donors’ expenses without providing perverse incentives. The A.S.T. also encourages companies to offer paid leave for living donors through our Circle of Excellence initiative.

Living donors alone cannot meet demand. The A.S.T. is engaged in ongoing work with the Health Resources and Services Administration, patients and other stakeholders to optimize the existing system for deceased donor transplantation, maximize the use of all available organs and minimize non-use.

These activities, along with research on the best strategies to remove disincentives, will result in meaningful progress. Selling organs is not the answer we need now.

Josh Levitsky Chicago The writer is a professor of medicine, surgery and medical education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Five years ago I donated my left kidney to a stranger after seeing his flyer posted in Starbucks. I was not paid money for my efforts. Yet it was one of the most rewarding endeavors in my life. Throughout the process, I learned many of the lessons that Dylan Walsh discusses.

Even though it’s too late for me to benefit financially, I strongly support the idea of paying future donors. The criticism that rich, powerful people will take advantage of the poor or vulnerable is based on the incorrect assumption that it’s not a rational decision to incur personal risks for financial and other benefits.

It is legal for women to act as paid surrogates carrying a pregnancy that poses at least as many potential medical risks as the nephrectomy. Paying people for kidneys is no different.

As a social worker who has worked with vulnerable people for decades, I believe it’s possible to create safety protocols to ensure that no one is making a decision that is coerced or lacking proper informed consent. There is no better reward than the good feeling of saving a life. Paying someone to do it is just icing on the cake.

Catherine Pearlman Laguna Niguel, Calif.

Nineteen years ago, I donated a kidney to my younger sister with the hope she would live another 10 good years. She had 12 good years, two not so good, and died at the age of 63. I am now 72 and have no regrets, but I remain strongly opposed to the concept of selling kidneys.

The organ transplant community tells only half the story, which is that donors should expect to live well with just one kidney. The other half of the story is what might be involved in recuperating from major surgery. To those involved in physical labor, I would tell them to be prepared to lose your livelihood for up to a year. Sure, there will be anecdotes like “I was mowing my lawn a week later!” But for me, even months later, my children told me that I walked funny.

With a Ph.D. in ethics, I am well aware of the ongoing debate of autonomy versus paternalism on all kinds of subjects. It’s too simplistic to say, “People should be allowed the personal freedom to sell a kidney.” We live in a society that limits our choices in all kinds of ways and for good reason.

In this case, I don’t see the transplant community ever being fully transparent about all the consequences of making this choice, just as they weren’t with me.

Thomas P. Roberts Hillsborough, N.C.

Dylan Walsh’s essay struck a chord. I have failing kidneys, brought on by being one of the millions of Americans with diabetes. Now 75, I long ago made major changes relating to diet, weight and exercise. Unfortunately, my progressive chronic kidney disease refused to get better.

So many of those thousands of Americans who are on waiting lists are young people deserving of so much more life to live. With so few donor kidneys available even for them, at my age I’ve made the decision not to seek a donor kidney, not to add my name to the waiting list. It would not be fair for those who have yet to experience a full life to miss out because I was next in line.

Would I like more time to enjoy life, love, family, etc.? Of course. If Mr. Walsh’s piece gains traction, and one day there are donor kidneys aplenty, I look forward to changing my mind.

Esteban S. Corona, Calif. The writer’s full name is not being used to protect his medical privacy.

The essay by Dylan Walsh highlights the travesty of our kidney transplant program. We are allowed to sell our blood, serum, sperm or ova but not kidneys, which are in short supply.

In addition to Mr. Walsh’s suggestion I would add another: Trade a kidney to stay out of jail. If select first offenders were given the opportunity to avoid a prison sentence by donating a kidney, they would benefit immediately by avoiding incarceration.

Society would benefit from obtaining a young healthy kidney while avoiding the cost of prison sentences. The offender/donor would avoid the many negative aspects of imprisonment. The kidney donation will save the life of someone who might otherwise die of kidney failure.

The experience of saving a life might also contribute to the rehabilitation of a first offender.

Robert W. Morgan Vero Beach, Fla. The writer is an epidemiologist.

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Full Body Donation Program at MERI: Honoring Life, Advancing Knowledge

Full body donation program at meri: honoring life, advancing knowledge..

She already gets her eyes, sense of humor, and adventurous spirit from you. Why not leave her a legacy of service as well, with the ultimate gift that will benefit medical science for her, her children, and beyond.

Why Choose Our Whole Body Donation Program

Our whole body donation program allows you to take part in groundbreaking medical training and research, even after passing away. You have the opportunity to make a significant and enduring impact on the lives of millions of people, providing them with a greater chance for a better life

At no expense to your family, Genesis provides transportation, a death certificate, and cremation services. The Genesis body donation program offers a dignified and honorable alternative for families who may either be financially drained or opposed to traditional, costly funerals.

Environmental Responsibility

Ashes are returned to your loved ones or interred in a mausoleum in the Memphis area, avoiding the ecological burden of a typical burial.

Peace of Mind

During their time with us, donors are treated with the utmost respect and dignity. At MERI’s body donation program, each donor is regarded as a living patient for every medical training procedure performed. MERI holds accreditation from the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and is licensed by the New York State Department of Health.

How Do I Become a Donor?

To pre-register for our whole-body donation program, you have the option to complete the donor forms ahead of time, or in the event of your passing, a legal authorizing party may utilize the Third-Party Authorization form included in the donor packet linked above to arrange for donation.

Complete the donor registration forms.

Inform your family or legal authorizing party to contact Genesis at time of death.

Upon notification, Genesis provides transportation of the donor to the MERI and files appropriate paperwork including death certificates.

Donor participates in medical education, training, and research for 6-12 months.

Cremated remains are returned to a loved one or interred in a mausoleum in the Memphis area.

What Happens

The Medical Education and Research Institute (MERI) in Memphis, TN is the non-profit organization that supports the Genesis Whole Body Donation Program. Donors make critical education and training possible through their selfless and generous gift for physicians, surgeons, nurses, EMTs, and other medical professionals from around the world. These professionals come to the MERI to gain invaluable hands-on experience in the latest medical techniques and technologies, taking this newfound knowledge back to their patients.

Donor Requirements

Acceptance is contingent on each donor’s medical suitability at the time of death. MERI’s Board, staff, faculty, students and researchers appreciate all who generously plan and hope to become anatomic donors. These gifts allow for the continuous improvement of patient care.

MERI must limit its acceptance of anatomic donors to those donors who at the time of death can be “good teachers,” free of infectious diseases that could harm the learner . Additionally, the donor’s physical condition must be suitable to create a safe, high-quality learning experience.

We cannot accept a donor who has moved to or passed away in a state that is not within the Genesis service area.

Donor Registration Forms

To submit your door registration forms, please complete the following steps:

Download the Genesis Donor Forms. (You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to open this type of file.)

Complete the forms online and then print OR print first and complete neatly by hand.

The completed forms MUST be hand signed by the donor and two (2) witnesses.

Mail the completed and signed Donor Forms packet to:

Genesis Whole Body Donation Program Medical Education & Research Institute 44 South Cleveland Memphis, TN 38104

Forms can also be mailed to you to complete and return. Please click here to be directed to our online request form

Learn More About Whole Body Donation

The genesis donation process, you may pre-sign into the body donation program by filling out the donor forms available here, or at the time of death , a legal authorizing party may arrange for the donation using the third party authorization form in the donor packet linked above., complete and submit donor registration forms. (a legal authorizing party may arrange for the donation as well), inform your family/legal authorizing party to contact genesis at time of death, when notified, genesis will provide transportation of the donor to the meri, meri will fill all appropriate paperwork including death certificate, within 6 weeks the legal authorizing party will receive a single copy of the death certificate, each donor will spend 6-12 months at the meri., once the donor has completed their time, the meri will have each donor cremated., upon cremation of the donor, the cremated remains may be returned to the person designated by the donor, or the donor’s cremated remains can be interred in a mausoleum in the memphis, tn area., frequently asked questions about our body donation program.

• Legal: It's done following the law to make sure things are done properly.
• Authorizing: They give the official go-ahead.
• Party: This can be a person or a business.

Testimonials

My husband's life mission was to help his fellow man, and how with the help of the MERI, he continues to help others. When my time comes, I will follow my husband's example.

MERI is a wonderful place. They treated my husband with so much respect, as well as my family and I.

Being a MERI donor is a very rewarding experience. It will enable me to offer a priceless service to mankind that has fulfilled a lifelong wish of mine... It is a miracle.

Community & Bereavement Resources

MERI: (901) 722-8001 (800) 360-6374

Genesis: (901) 278-7841 (877)-288-4483 (GIVE)

[email protected]

44 South Cleveland Memphis, TN 38104

If you require additional assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for more help. Please fill out the form below for further assistance and we will get back with you as soon as possible.

Voluntary Blood Donation Importance Essay

Introduction.

Blood donation is a vital part of medical aid. Although there are artificial substitutes for blood, they will hardly ever be as effective as natural blood in cases when the blood transfusion is needed. In contrast to the blood, they lack plenty of natural substances, which are crucial for metabolism.

Blood donation is a voluntary act aimed at the organization and supply of blood for medical and scientific purposes. The donors are the individuals who donate their blood and its integral parts. The blood donated by the volunteers is often divided into its components because some patients need only plasma, red cells, or some other components. Usually, the donation takes about 8-10 minutes but certain types can take up to two hours ( Why donate blood? 2014).

It goes without saying that blood donation is an important part of medicine as almost every third individual on the planet needs the transfusion of blood once in his or her life. The rare blood groups represent especially bright evidence of the importance of voluntary blood donation. Sometimes, the relatives or friends become the donors for the patient. However, if the person who needs the transfusion has the rare blood group and Rhesus factor and none of the relatives has the same, the doctors use the blood donated and stored by the volunteers. Thus, voluntary blood donation can save the lives of people. The patients with leucosis need the transfusion every day and they will die without the supply of the donated blood.

There are also benefits from donating blood for donors themselves as it reduces the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. Besides, it stimulates the circulation of blood and makes the skin and hair healthier.

Why donate blood? (2014). Web.

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IvyPanda. (2022, May 10). Voluntary Blood Donation Importance. https://ivypanda.com/essays/blood-donation/

"Voluntary Blood Donation Importance." IvyPanda , 10 May 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/blood-donation/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Voluntary Blood Donation Importance'. 10 May.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Voluntary Blood Donation Importance." May 10, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/blood-donation/.

1. IvyPanda . "Voluntary Blood Donation Importance." May 10, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/blood-donation/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Voluntary Blood Donation Importance." May 10, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/blood-donation/.

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ISP K-9 Daisy to receive body armor donation

INDIANA, USA — Indiana State Police K-9 Daisy will soon be patrolling with extra protection, thanks to a recent donation.

The nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. made the donation for a bullet- and stab-protective vest, which is embroidered with, "In memory of K9 Hobbs, Des Moines, IA EOW 12/12/13."

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, and a single donation of $985 will sponsor one vest.

The nonprofit has provided more than 5,500 vests to K-9s in all 50 states, totaling nearly $7 million.

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