Episode 9: Donate Life. What You Never Knew About Organ Donation

  April is Donate Life Month. In this episode Christen, my new cohost, who is a neuro ICU nurse at one of the top hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery joins to chat about Organ donation.   When I reached out to my listeners, the main reason that people shared that they were not advocates of organ donation is because their religion did not support organ donation. Christen was quizzed on different religions to find exactly who did not allow organ donation. AME & AME ZION (African Methodist Episcopal) – Allowed Amish- Allowed Assembly of God- Allowed Baptist- Allowed Bretheren- Allowed as long as it does not hasten life or come from an unborn child Buddhism- Allowed Catholicism- Allowed Christian Science- Allowed Episcopal- Allowed Greek Orthodox- Allowed Hinduism- Allowed Independent Conservative Evangelical- Allowed Islam- Allowed Jehovah’s Witnesses- Allowed as long as the blood is completely drained from the organs Judaism- Allowed Lutheran- Allowed Mennonite- Allowed Moravian- Allowed Mormon (Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints)- Allowed Pentecostal- Allowed Presbyterian- Allowed Seventh-Day Adventists- Allowed Shinto- NOT ALLOWED Society of Friends (Quaker)- Allowed Unitarian Universalist- Allowed United Church of Christ- Allowed United Methodist- Allowed There are two types of donors. The first is a live donor. A living person is able to give another an organ- For example: A parent is in need of a kidney transplant. Their child is able to donate one of their kidneys if they are a match. The organ leaves a living person and is transplanted into another living person. Organs that can come from live donors include, Kidney, liver, lung, intestine, blood and bone marrow.  The other type of organ is a deceased organ. Once a patient (naturally) dies, organs are taken from them and transplanted into a recipient.  Organs that can be taken and used from a deceased donor include heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas and small intestines. Tissues include corneas, skin, veins, heart valves, tendons, ligaments and bones.  Myths: 1. I have a medical condition, so I can’t be a donor. --- Not true. Anyone, regardless of age or medical history can sign up to be a donor. The transplant team will determine at an individual’s time of death whether donation is possible. There are very few conditions that would prevent a person from becoming a donor. You should still consider registering. Even with an illness, you may be able to donate your organs or tissues. 2. I’m too old to be a donor. ---There is no age limit to organ donation. The oldest donor in the US was 93 years old! 3. If they see I’m a donor at the hospital, they won’t try to save my life. ---When you are a patient in the hospital our priority is to save your life. Donation does not become a possibility until life saving measures are likely to not sustain prolongation of life.  4. Rich and famous people on the waiting list get organs faster. --- A national computer system matches donated organs and recipients. These factors include blood type, time spent waiting, other important medical information, how sick the person is, and geographic location. Race, income, and celebrity are NEVER a factor. 5. My Family won't be able to have an open casket at my funeral if I'm a donor. --- An open casket is usually possible 6. My family will have to pay for the donation--- There is no cost to donors or families for donation ....and more!