Organ Donation

    A young woman dies in a car accident, but her heart will help another child live.  A young man is fatally shot, but his kidneys and lungs were transplanted successfully to a waiting donor. These people and many others have made arrangements to become organ donors. Organ transplants became possible in the 1960's, and from the beginning were donated anonymously.  However, in the past several years, organ recipients and organ donor families have met.  Should the two meet?   This is an important issue that should be discussed and arranged with family members.  The following websites provide information on how to go about the process of organ donation, as well as information on policy, risk factors and resources:

Organ and Tissue Donations United Network for Organ Sharing
Organ Donation Options Organ Transplantation
Donate Life End of Life Care
Agency for Health Care Administration Medline Plus
National Transplant Society Center for Disease Control

 

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Last Updated November 4, 2004
Comments to Sybil Stokols