Which Organs Can Be Donated for Transplantation?
The following organs can be donated.
- Heart
- Kidneys
- Liver
- Lungs
- Pancreas
- Small Intestine
July 30, 2007
July 29, 2007
Why do I need to tell my family of my decision if I have already recorded my wish to become a donor?
In the event of your death, documentation of your wish to become a donor will increase the chance that you will be a donor. If your family is asked for consent, telling them about your decision to be a donor is the best way to ensure that your wishes are carried out. The death of a loved one is a very difficult time for a family, and knowing the wishes of the deceased makes it easier for them to decide about or accept donation.
Can my family be paid for my organs?
No. Organ donation is considered an act of charity by the donor and/or the donor’s family, and buying or selling human organs is against Federal law. The National Organ Transplant Act (Public Law 98-507) makes it illegal to sell human organs and tissues.
Is brain death the same as being in a coma? I have heard that people can recover from a coma. Can people recover from brain death?
A coma and brain death are completely different. A person in a coma still has brain activity and is alive. The person may recover from a coma and possibly regain normal brain function. People who are brain dead have no brain activity. They are dead. Their brain can never recover, but the rest of their body may be kept functioning for a short time by a mechanical support system.
July 28, 2007
Will organ donation interfere with funeral arrangements?
Organ donation does not disfigure the body or delay funeral arrangements. The organs are removed with respect in an operating room under sterile conditions.