Many of us are willing to donate our organs to victims who are ready to say hello to death. This generous act of kindness leaves us feeling good that we have helped a stranger, or that we were able to lend a hand in creating a new path for their future. Aside from normal organ donation, we also have the opportunity to donate our bodies to science. Thousands of people each year sign up for body donation, thus allowing medical professionals to advance in developing new medicines and curing diseases.
For those who don't know, organ donation can come in many forms. There are often common donations such as kidneys and livers. However, hearts, lungs, and other serious organs can also be donated for a number of reasons. For instance, if your loved one needed a kidney and you were a perfect match, you could give up yours so he could survive. It is a wonderful way to save someone's life, even if that isn't your main reason for doing it. On the other hand, there are also opportunities to donate your heart and lungs to science. Whole body donation helps medical scientists and doctors analyze the causes of diseases and shield lights on methods for conquering them.
In the United States, there are roughly 90,000 people waiting for an organ match, and the majority of people die before actually receiving a transplant. There are an abundance of reasons for shortage of organ donation. For instance, a majority of citizens fear that their own illnesses will prevent their organs from benefiting someone else. Other concerns include being too old, young, or just can't commit due to religious and personal beliefs. It is a continuous circle that only leads to an unfortunate amount of people not being able to get the right organ donation.
Organ donation is one of the most important concerns in our society today. People automatically assume that organ donations are taken care of because millions of people have stickers on their licenses. Unfortunately, many of these people can only donate when they pass away. For this reason, the people on the current waiting list may have to wait years or even decades to get a new kidney, heart, or other type of organ. It can be a frustrating and often depressing thought for people who are searching for the perfect match. Yet there is always hope and the possibility of a new set of donors. With the United States currently trying to find new ways to get organ donations, the opportunities may be on the way up.
Natalie Aranda writes on health and medicine. Many of us are willing to donate our organs to victims who are ready to say hello to death. This generous act of kindness leaves us feeling good that we have helped a stranger, or that we were able to lend a hand in creating a new path for their future. Aside from normal organ donation, we also have the opportunity to donate our bodies to science. Thousands of people each year sign up for body donation, thus allowing medical professionals to advance in developing new medicines and curing diseases.
Over half of the 100,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate about 20,000 transplantable organs every year. Over 6,000 of our neighbors suffer and die needlessly every year as a result.
There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.