The donation of organs after death an act of love to give life

The donation is an altruistic gesture, considered as the greatest act of kindness among human beings. At present there are thousands of people who, in order to continue living or improve their quality of life, need a transplant.

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The reality is that the waiting lists to receive organs and tissues will continue to increase if the number of donations can not be increased. The only way to solve this problem is to be an organ donor and encourage others we know to be an organ donor too; the more donors there are, the greater the number of lives that can be saved.

Epidemiology

In the United States, 20 people die every day waiting for a transplant. At the same time, every 10 minutes a person must be added to the waiting lists. This figure gives an idea of the magnitude of the problem: in August 2017, 116,000 people were waiting for an organ. While the rate of donors grows moderately, that of patients whose lives depend on a transplant goes faster: each year the organ deficit grows, despite the fact that around 50% of adults in North America have registered as a donor .

The rate of transplants in the United States is 92.7 per million inhabitants, only surpassed by Spain, a world leader that reaches the figure of 100.7. This Spanish average is much higher than the European Union as a whole, which is 62.4.

When the figures for Latin America are revised, the fall in the averages is radical. They head the ranking Cuba (13,9), Argentina and Brazil (13,6) and Uruguay (13,2). Below are Colombia (8.4), Costa Rica (7.1), Chile (6.7) and Panama (6.4). In the lowest part are Peru (2.6), Venezuela (1.7) and Guatemala (0.9).

Since each organ is an invaluable asset, we must not forget that each person has a large potential for donation: a heart, two lungs, two kidneys, a pancreas, a liver, the intestines, in addition to the bone marrow, bones, eye tissues , heart valves, vascular segments, ligaments, etc.

In countries where there is a low rate of organ donation there is a clear disproportion between the number of patients waiting to be saved and the culture of donating, which is almost non-existent.

What is the donation of organs.

Organ donation is the removal of organs or tissues from the body of a person who has recently died or from a living donor, for the purpose of performing a transplant. The organs and tissues are removed in procedures similar to surgery.

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What organs can be donated?

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The organs that can be donated are the kidneys, the liver, the heart, the pancreas and the lungs. In addition, a donation can also obtain tissues, also very necessary, such as bone, corneas, heart valves and bone marrow.

Who can be a donor?

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Any person who in life decides that, at his death, his organs serve to save or improve the lives of others can be an organ donor. However, you should know that despite our desire to be an organ donor, not all can be, as for this, it will be necessary for the death to happen an Intensive Care Unit of a hospital. It is in these units where it is possible to perform the preservation of the organs and the necessary tests to make a correct assessment of each potential donor.

It will be the medical team who, once all the necessary tests have been done, will decide if the deceased can be a donor and from which organs.

In terms of age, most international guides up to age 65 can be a donor.

Family consent and donation.

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The laws of different countries allow potential donors to accept or refuse to donate, everything will depend on the Law of donation of each country.

There are countries where we are all donors unless you have expressed in life the desire not to be a donor.

Religious point of view

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Certain groups oppose the donation of organs for religious reasons, but most religions in the world support donation as a charitable act of great benefit to the community.

An organ transplant means a new life opportunity for people who need a heart, a kidney, a lung or any other vital part of the body. Almost anyone of any age can become an organ donor, knowing that they have the ability to save others, even after they die.