World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on August 13 across the globe. The aim is to sensitise people the need to donate organs and save lives.
The shortage of organs is a universal problem. India too has a wide gap between those who need transplants and the organs that are available, a huge supply-demand gap. This is further exaggerated by the low organ cadaveric organ donation.As per the statistics, in our country three people die of road accidents every 10 minutes ; besides there are several thousands of deaths due to medical causes in young patients. In India, trends indicate that the organ donation from the living is higher than from the deceased. In fact over the years, the trends indicate an increasing proportion of organ donations from the living. On the other hand, it’s an irony that there is an humongous list of potential organ transplant patients for liver, kidney, heart , pancreas , intestine , heart valves, eyes etc . India has the dubious distinction of the world”s highest road traffic accident rates and yet having the lowest organ donation rate. One of the primary reasons is the lack of awareness among the common man about the process of organ donation and the prevalence of numerous myths. Unless these are adequately addressed the organ donation rate in our country will not improve
Here I discuss the seven common myths regarding Organ Donation
- My religion does not permit me donate my organs
This issue has been discussed with priests from all religions in several seminars and all have unanimously concluded that no religion bars organ donation either during the lifetime or after brain death.
- The organs for donation be harvested after death of a person
Once a person dies and the heart stops the organs become useless. The organs can only be removed after brain death i.e when the brain functions are gone but the heart is still beating which usually happens in Intensive care units. The only organ that can be harvested after death is cornea and that too within 6 hours. All other organs have to be taken once the donor is brain dead but the heart is still beating. Hence it is important to pledge your organs while you are alive so that they can be quickly removed in the unfortunate event of brain death.
- The body gets disfigured and mutilated
during the process of removal of organs after brain death
The process of removal of organs is carried out by experts in an operation theatre and the surgical incision that is given is neatly stitched back and there is no mutilation of the body .
- I can buy an organ (liver/kidney) for my family member from any person.
The process of organ donation in our country is regulated by the Human Organ Transplantation Act which prohibits the sale and purchase of organs. As per the act only near relatives of the patients can donate organs to them. Thus sale and purchase of organs is prohibited and is a punishable offence
- I will become handicapped / weak if I donate my kidney?
Research has shown that most living donors remain just as healthy after donation as people who have not donated. Kidney donors are not more likely to get disease after donating provided all the pre transplant screening tests are clear. For most donors the remaining kidney compensates for the other one and works fine for the rest of their lives. Few kidney donors might get high blood pressure or protein leakage in the future.
- .If I donate my organ I will be unable to start my family A woman and man who donate a kidney can still have It is advised that a woman wait one year after donation before getting pregnant so that her body is recovered completely.
- I am more than 60 years of age too old to donate organs
The health of the donor and his organs is more important than the chronological age of the donor. If all the pre transplant screening tests are fine then the person can donate his /her kidney . The oldest living donor in my experience has been 73 years.
Some Dos and Dont’s of Organ Donations
- All of us need to sign a pledge to donate our organ during our lifetime.
- We need to spread this message to all our near and dear ones that we should not take our organs to Heaven, they are needed on earth to save lives.
- We should have community involvement in this effort Rotary club , Lions club
- Please do not assume that you are unfit to donate organs if you are not well. There is a team of medical experts which carefully evaluates all the reports before they give go ahead for organ donation.
- Don’t pressurise any person to donate an organ. This is entirely a voluntary act.
- For all patients waiting for organs please go to your nearest hospital which has licence for organ transplant and register at NOTTO website after completing all the basic formailities
- If you have already pledged to donate your organs please motivate your family members, neighbours, friends and coworkers to do the same.
Dr SanjeevGulati
Executive Director,
Nephrology and Kidney Transplant
Fortis group, NCR,
Member Governing Body, Indian Society of Organ Transplant and
President Indian Society of Nephrology
