Organ Donation

gan 50 Phelan Ave San Francisco, CA 94112 April 9, 2013 Mr. Bob Smith Health Service Secretary 1145 Market Street San Francisco, CA  94103 Dear Mr. Smith FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE HSS SECRETARY Organ donation is a compassionate way to give back to others, being able to make a huge difference by giving another person a second chance to live. The number of patients waiting for organs far exceeds the number of people who have registered to become organ donors. What’s worse, Patients are forced to wait months, even years for a match, and far too many die before they are provided with a suitable organ.

In fact, in 2011, a total of 597 people died in New York State while waiting for organ transplants. This means that someone died every 15 hours in the state because of the organ donor shortage. As a member of the US Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation, I believe that becoming an organ donor after death is not only an important decision for yourself, but it is also an important decision for the life that you may have the power to save. Organ transplants takes healthy organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another.

It usually occurs for patients with kidney or liver failure, or eventually heart or lung malfunctions. For patients who need a kidney or a liver, a living donor’s organ can be utilized; since we are already born with an extra kidney and the liver naturally regenerate. Moreover, a transplant is usually the last course of action in the treatment of a patient, but if the patient is willing and able, it can be a good option. However, a match is made when both the donor and the receiver have the same blood and tissue type, and other medical factors are considered depending on the specific needs for each case.

Also, how long a patient has been waiting for an organ is a big factor when choosing who will get which organ. In “A Moral Solution to the Organ Shortage” written by Alexander Tabarrok in 2001, the author argues that the “no-give-no-take” rule is the best solution, proposing that only people who agreed to be organ donors can have organ transplants in return. I strongly agree with Tabarrok because as he mentions in his essay “ While it is understandable that some people may have misgivings about becoming donors for personal or religious reasons, why should someone who was not willing to give an organ be allowed to take an organ? (582). Additionally, I must say that I’m quite uncomfortable with the idea of human organs for sale, health and especially organs should not be bought with money. Furthermore, Organ transplantation can only be possible if the donor and the receiver both already agreed by signing their organ donor cards before they discover they’re having health complications, needing a kidney, a lung or a heart transplant. In the United States, 42. 7 percent of individuals’ age 18 and older has registered to be organ, eye and tissue donors.

I suggest that the “no-give-no-take” rule should be considered. It’s easy and fair, all you have to do is apply with you state donor by going to “www. Organdonor. gov” and registering to what state you reside in, as well as entering some basic information such as your name, address, height, gender and of course what specific organs you are willing to donate after you death. Fortunately, You can donate organs at almost any age – anywhere between a newborn to a 65 year old can sign up. Besides, there are countless highly important reasons that you should donate organs.

First of all, the satisfaction of being able to save lives even when you are already gone. Your organs will live on and go on to help someone else, and at the same time your memory will of course live on for the grateful people who receive your organs. Secondly, having the chance to receive an organ that you may need. Consequently, your own life will be saved. Currently, over 116,000 patients in the United States are in need of a new organ, it is easy to help them and save their lives.

Registering to be an organ donor is a charitable act that costs nothing. It allows a donor to save up to eight lives through organ donations, and to save or improve the lives of up to 50 recipients through tissue and eye donation. As Tabarrok says in his essay: ”Being willing to give up an organ, should it no longer be of use to you, is the premium to be paid for the right to receive someone else’s organ if one yours fails. ” (582). And this what sums up what the “no-give-no-take” policy is all about.

In 2008, Israel turned that idea to a law. This latter has had an unusually tough time getting people to become organ donors, but once the rules changed, the response was extraordinary. Israelis are offering up their organs in the case of their death so fast, they are overwhelming the system. This would have a great impact on the United States as well, they’re might be some controversies, but people will get over it, and lots of lives will be saved. Thank you for your time. Sincerely yours, Ali lwa3r.

Refutation Outline Topic: Organ donation General Purpose: To Persuade Specific Purpose: To persuade my audience to consider becoming organ donors after death Central Idea: Becoming an organ donor after death is not only an important decision for yourself, but it is also an important decision for the life that you may have the power to save. ————————————————- Organizational Pattern: Refutation (chapter 17, pp. 387-388). Delivery Outline: Keywords Introduction: Without being a doctor, police men, firefighter etc. he chances of saving someone’s life are slim to none. But by becoming an organ donor, you can be able to say “I will save a life. ” Organ donation is a selfless way to give back to others, and to be able to make a huge difference by giving another person a second chance at life. Unfortunately, the number of patients waiting for organs far exceeds the number of people who have registered to become organ donors. Patients are forced to wait months, even years for a match, and far too many die before they are provided with a suitable organ.

There are many myths related to organ donation, but most of them are relatively false, and in order to be well informed, you must know what organ donation is, how it works as well as how you can become an organ donor and what organs you can donate. 1. Organ donation takes healthy organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another. Organs you can donate include: kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas, intestines, lungs, skin, bone, bone marrow, and cornea 2. Organ donations usually occur for patients with kidney failure, heart disease, lung disease, and cirrhosis of the liver.

For patients who need a kidney or a liver, a living donor’s organs can be utilized, since we are already born with an extra kidney and the liver is regenerative. However, if the patient needs a heart, lung, pancreas or cornea, the organ needs to come from a deceased donor. 3. A transplant is usually the last course of action in the treatment of a patient, but if the patient is willing and able, it can be a good option. If the patient consents to an organ transplant, doctors put the patient’s name on a list by the United Network for Organ Sharing.

I. The United Network for Organ Sharing has a database with all transplant patients awaiting organs and information on all organ transplant centers around the country, and the board of directors, which is made up of transplant doctors, establishes policies that decide who will get which organs. Body: Two –Five main Points I. Arguments against organ donation A. .People of all ages and backgrounds can be organ donors, and if you are under 18, you must get permission from your parent before registering as an organ donor. B.

Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions, including Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, and most branches of Judaism II. How to become an organ donor and the benefits of organ donation A. Register with your state donor registry by going to organdonor. gov and registering online according to what state you reside in. All you have to do is enter in some basic information, such as your name, address, height, gender, and race, and also what specific organs you are willing to donate after your death B.

Designate your decision on your driver’s license, as well as when you renew it. III. Benefits that come along with organ donation A. The satisfaction of being able to save lives even when you are already gone, and some families feel that knowing their loved one has helped save a life in turn helps them in coping with their loss. B. You will be leaving this world knowing that if you weren’t able to help someone while you were alive at least you’re doing it now that you’ve passed away. Conclusion I. So why not help and save someone else by giving them something that you are no longer in need of?

So many patients who are in need of a new organ just want a second chance at life, and it is so easy to help them. II. Anyone and everyone can do it, and the process is very simple. You will leave this world knowing you made a difference III. Becoming an organ donor is a very important decision that will not only impact your life but the lives of many others as well. IV. Before doing the research for this speech, I had never really considered or even thought about the potential of me becoming an organ donor.

However, now that I am more informed on the subject, it seems like a no brainer to just register to donate my organs. If you really think about it, are you going to be using your organs in your grave when you die? as of November 26, 2010, there are 9,729 registered organ donors and, as of yesterday, 109,966 are waiting list candidates for organ transplants. Please help change these numbers by registering to become organ donors, and together, we can all be satisfied knowing that we will, in the future, save someone’s life

Biology Essay

There are many types of organs in our body. Each organ has their own function and they are important. If an organ is damaged or diseased, without medical help, a person could die. The cornea is very special and is an important part of human body. It helps to protect the rest of the eye from germs, dust, and other harmful matter. The cornea acts as the eye’s outermost lens. It functions like a window that controls and focuses the entry of light into the eye. The cornea also serves as a filter, screening out some of the mist damaging ultraviolet wavelengths in sunlight.

Without this protection, the lens and the retina would be highly susceptible to injury from ultraviolet radiation. A cornea transplant is a surgical procedure to replace part of the cornea with corneal tissue from a deceased donor. Cornea transplant applies to people who have vision problems caused by thinning of the cornea, severe infections or injuries to scarring of the cornea, or vision loss caused by the cloudiness of the cornea. The method of cornea surgery is complex. Sometimes, the body rejects the transplanted tissue. This occurs in a small number of patients (The New York Times).

It occurs in about one out of three patients in the first five years (Medline Plus). According to the Alabama Eye Bank, more than 90% of cornea transplant operations successfully restore the recipient’s vision. Other dangers for a corneal transplant are bleeding, infection of the eye, glaucoma (high pressure in the eye that can cause vision loss) and swelling of the front of the eye (Medline Plus). Certainly, the medical provider would take every possible precaution to prevent such complications because it can permanently damage the eyes.

The surgery consists of the removal of a circular piece of the affected cornea and replacing it with a piece of donor cornea of exactly the same size or shape. It is sewn into place with very fine stitches. Eyes are never removed or replaced during the operation. The body can reject the new cornea sometimes and this is a very negative result of this surgery. 3% to 5% of people get scared and swollen in their eyes after the surgery according to Dr. Paul Driver. However, there are still some positives about corneal surgery. It improves people’s vision and has a positive impact on their social and educational development. There are many benefits for patients who receive a cornea transplant. The recovery time of a corneal transplant is faster than other transplants. People who get the transplant can leave the hospital in a day. With almost all the other surgeries and other transplants, they require people to be hospitalized. Also, the success probability of cornea transplant is higher than other surgeries and patients enjoy good vision for many years (Winchester Hospital). Although the transplant has many benefits, it also has some limitations.

In some cases, the body rejects the new cornea. Recognizing the warning signs of problems is the best way to prevent corneal transplant rejection. Those symptoms are redness, pain, sensitivity to light and decreased vision that lasts more than 12 hours (Cleveland Clinic). Also, cornea infections are still a problem that science is trying to prevent. Eye drops are used to prevent infection but also prevent rejection. Rejection can be stopped in most cases, especially if it is diagnosed and treated timely. If treatment fails, another transplant will be needed.

However, it is more difficult and the chances of success are not as good as with the first transplant (net doctor). And still, there are cases when a donor cornea cannot be found to use in the transplant because the donors are not available. In Europe, an Opt-out approach has the greatest impact on the number of preventable deaths that occur because of the lack of donated organs. This approach requires each individual to make a minor action in declaring his or her desire to refrain from donating according to Opt-out laws. Family do not involve in this, it would not make any changes unless that person says no to donation.

In the United States, the system is the opposite of Opt-out, and it is called Opt-In. Many states find a way to encourage the donations to be made by allowing the agreement to be noted on the driver’s license. Donor signs up for an individual’s wish to be a donor. Individual people have to say yes to be a donor. This means the number of donors starts from a small number. It is a pure consent system rather than an extended opt-out system. (NHSBT) There are more than 10 million people waiting for corneas but there are fewer people contribute corneas (Sight Life).

Some people don’t want to contribute it because of their religious beliefs make them think they cannot contribute anything on their body after death. Most people think that dead people do not need their organs anymore; they should give them to someone who does and prefer an Opt-out approach. The cornea transplant costs a lot of money. According to Eye Surgery Center, it costs 7500 to 10000 dollars to get a cornea transplant. This expensive price also can be a problem. Some poor people cannot get a transplant because they do not have enough money. The situation can cause people to commit robbery.

Even some people kidnap because of this expensive operation prices. For example, on NTD Television in China on Aug. 1, 2012, there was a report about a Korean couple that visited China and the woman was kidnapped. After a few days, the woman was found dead with all of her organs removed. This kind of situation is a very serious problem. People commit crimes because of this expensive price that they cannot afford it. Over 111000 people need organ transplants. Thousands of people die each year before a transplant can be located and people have to wait for a long time.

Increasing the number of donors would help end the needless suffering and would save lives. I know it’s hard to think about what are going to happen to your body after you die, but being an organ donor is a generous and worthwhile decision that can be a lifesaver.

Citation

1. “Corneal Transplant Improves Vision and Daily Life for Some Children. ” American Academy of Opthalmology . American Academy of Opthalmology , 2013. Web. 8 Feb. 2013.
2. “Cornea transplant. ” MedlinePlus. MedlinePlus, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.
3. “Community, Health, You don’t need your eyes when you’re dead but there people do. UPWORTHY. UPWORTHY, 2012. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.
4. “Corneal Problems . ” SOLL EYE . SOLL EYE, 2012. Web. 8 Feb. 2013.
5. “Corneal Transplantation. ” netdoctor. netdoctor, 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
6. “Corneal conditions and diseases. ” Cleveland Clinic . Cleveland Clinic, 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
7. “Corneal Transplant . ” Winchester Hospital . Winchester Hospital, 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. Developed by, RelayHealth.
8. “Corneal Transplant. ” CRS – Adult Health Advisor (2012): 1. Health Source – Consumer Edition. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.
9. “Education and Training, Myths and Facts about Cornea Transplant . ” Alabama Eye Bank. Alabama Eye Bank, 2013. Web. 8 Feb. 2013.
10. “Corneal Transplantation. ” Eye Surgery Center. Eye Surgery Center, 2009. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.
11. “Health Guide, Corneal Transplant. ” The New York Times. The New York Times, 5 Feb. 2013. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.
12. “Something about Organ Donation. ” Donation after Death. Donation after Death, 2013. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
13. “The Traffickers . ” NTD Television. NTD Television , 2013. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
14. “The World Through New Eyes. ” SightLife. SightLife, 2012. Web. 9 Feb. 2013.
15. “Why do donors tick the opt-out box for eye? .” BBC News. BBC News, 13 Apr. 2010. Web. 5 Feb. 2013.

Organ Donation What is going to happen to your body when you die? Will you be buried, cremated, or will you use it for the benefit of others? Organ donations can save lives and be used for research. Organ donation is not solely restricted to people who have passed. Donating is also possible when you are alive. Every American needs to become an organ donor because millions of lives could be saved. Saving lives after death is one of the major motivating factors for organ donations. One organ can save up to eight lives (“Organ Donation Facts”).

There are over 114,000 people waiting for organ transplants (“Organ Donation Facts”). There was a case of a woman’s husband dying from a car crash and he donated his organs. A few months after his death she got letters in the mail that his organs saved the lives of five people, one of which was a single mother of two small children. On average, eighteen people die a day from being on the waiting list for organ transplants (“Organ Donations”). Every ten minutes someone is added to the waiting list (“The Need Is Real”). These tragic facts are just some of the reasons why people need to become organ donors.

It is also possible to donate certain organs while still being alive. While this is more difficult, there is an excellent success rate for the surgeries (CNN Health). Most of these situations involve donating to a family member, saving the life of someone cared for by the donator. Also, by donating to a family member it makes you closer to that person. After you donate you will be contacted by the person that got your donated organ, in case you want to talk to them ( Living Donors Online). In 2010 more than eighteen thousand kidneys were donated by live donors (“Save A Life”).

If a person needs a new kidney they are on dialysis, but if you would donate a kidney to them it would double there life p (“Benefits Of Living Donation”). Donating an organ while being alive is an incredibly generous thing to do and every American should consider. Yet another option is whole body donations for science and research. There is a significant shortage of human tissue, the tissue that they have are being used to find cures for cancer and neurological disorders (Fox News). Tissue is also needed to give surgeons operating experience (Fox News).

If surgeons do not get the experience they need then when they go into surgery on someone they are not prepared and are more likely to make a mistake. Also firefighters and EMT’s need experience with tissue because of burns and emergency medical treatment (Iiam). Also when you donate your entire body it can be used in museums for educational purposes. This educates people on how the body works and why we should be organ donors (Iiam). Donating for science is a very useful way to donate organs after you die. While donating your body and organs is obviously a selfless and beneficial act, there are some people who are opposed to organ donation.

There are some who argue that if one is in a situation that requires serious medical attention, doctors will not try as hard to save you because you are a donor and could save others. However, doctors will put just as much effort into saving you because only the transplant team knows if you are an organ donor. Some also believe that old people cannot donate organs, making it impossible for people who die of natural causes to donate. There is no defined age limit for a donor; organs have been successfully transplanted from people in their seventies and eighties.

Every American needs to become an organ donor to save and help many lives. Your body has no use to you after you have died. Also you could save up to eight peoples lives. Donating organs while you are alive is also an option when donating and it could save the life of someone very important to you. Research is a very important part of organ donating because it trains medical personnel to be better prepared so that they can save lives when they are working. When you get your license or renew your license, be sure to answer yes to being an organ donor.