#organdonationday

Today on Organ Donation day, Turacoz team members pledge their organs for a noble cause and want to contribute to human life even after perishing.

Why should we donate our organs?

In India, where population consists of 1.2 billion people, the statistics stands at 0.08 persons as organ donors per million population (PMP). This is an incredibly small and insignificant number compared to the statistics around the world.

• 500,000 people die because of non-availability of organs
• 150,000 people await a kidney transplant but only 5,000 get one
• 1,000,000 lakh people suffer from corneal blindness and await transplant

What is Organ donation?

Organ donation is the donation of a biological tissue or an organ of the human body from a living or dead person to a living recipient for the purpose of transplantation. The organ is taken from the donor and transplanted in the body of the recipient.

Who can be donor?
Any person can be organ donor, irrespective of age, caste, religion, community, current or past medical condition.

• Patients having cancer, HIV, active infection (for example, sepsis) or using Intravenous (IV) drugs are not eligible for organ-donation.
• Most cancer patients may donate corneas.
• Patients who have Hepatitis C and B rarely donate organs to a patient with Hepatitis C and B respectively.

Which organs and tissues can you donate?

• Organs like heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, and pancreas can be donated only after the donor is declared ‘brain dead’.
• Tissues like corneas, heart valves, skin, bones etc. can be donated in case of natural death.

How are organs harvested after brain death?

• Efforts are made to stabilize the patient in a hospital. If he is pronounced brain-dead by the doctor’s evaluation, testing and documentation, he may donate his organs.
• Consent from the family, coroner and legal authorities is obtained to proceed with the donation, and the organ procurement organization is informed.
• In the meantime, the donor’s body is maintained on ventilator, and stabilized with fluids and medications. Numerous laboratory tests are performed.
• Recipients are identified for placement of donor’s organs.
• A surgical team is coordinated for removal of organs and tissues at the hospital.
• Multiple organ recovery is performed with organs being preserved through special solutions and cold packing. The ventilator support is then discontinued.
• The donor’s body is surgically closed and released.

How to donate organs?

• To be an organ donor, it is important to register by signing up for Organ Donation.
• Discuss with your family and friends and let them understand your decision.
• Always carry an Organ-donor Card with you. Your family should be aware of your decision. Without their consent, the organs/tissues cannot be donated.

“If something comes to life in others because of you, then you have made an approach to immortality.”
–Norman Cousins