Deciding to donate your organs is a very admirable and selfless trait. Nowadays, there a lot of people in this world who are struggling to survive with their lingering illness but still manageable. Sometimes, medications are not enough to cure them, and the last resort would be through organ donation. The medical world is always short on viable organs since one patient is added on the waiting list every 10 minutes. Some people and interested in being donors and knowing what organs and tissues can be donated in order to help save lives.

In this article, we will talk about organ donation and what are common questions and the necessary steps to become one.

What are the advantages of donating an organ?

• It gives other people hope to hang on and to continue fighting.
• It does not only save a life but many lives depending on the state and viability of your organs during harvest.

What organs and tissues can be donated?

All viable major organs such as heart, lungs, kidney, liver, and cornea are the most common body parts that are used in transplant surgery can be donated as long as they are in good shape and you have no underlying conditions.

Can I be a living donor? Are there risks?

• You and anyone can be a living donor. You can donate part of your liver and one of your kidneys while you’re still alive and still get to live a normal life after the surgery. This is also possible if you wish to donate part of your pancreas and lungs as long as you’re healthy enough you can easily recuperate.
• However, for other organs such as the heart, cornea and other parts, it will be harvested after the donor passed away.
• Yes, there are risks because just like any other surgery you will be going under the knife. There are chances that complications may arise such as bleeding, clots or hemorrhage. You will be asked to sign a waiver before the surgery, and you will be given time to talk to your doctor.

What are the reasons for a person to be declined or rejected as an organ donor?

• If you have a certain illness such as HIV, Aids, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and heart problems, then there is a bigger chance for you to get rejected.
• If you will die from a highly contagious disease
• What you can do is apply as a donor and be transparent about your medical history, and it’s up to the doctors to decide if you’re a good candidate or not.

How do I apply as an organ donor and where do I submit my application?

• If you’re of legal age (18 years old and above), you no longer need consent from your parents and guardian to be an organ donor.
• You can apply as a donor as you get your driver’s license. Ask for the appropriate form to fill up and submit it as soon as possible.
• Once your license is released, it should indicate that you’re an organ donor.