The Reasons to Support Organ Donation - Essay Example

Persuasive Essay on Organ Donation Introduction In contemporary medical profession, it is a common practice for one person to donate an organ or a tissue to a patient. Organ donation refers to the giving of one human being’s (brain dead/alive) organ or tissue to another (Scheve 1). It should be noted from the onset that the donor of an organ could be living or dead although the recipient must be living and in need of the donated organ. After establishing both the recipient’s and the donor’s medical and social history, quite intricate surgical procedures are used to remove the tissues and organs to be transplanted (Huebert 278). Unfortunately, the issue of organ transplant has been a rather hotly debated and controversial one with a cross section of society opposing the practice and others in support of it. Nonetheless, organ donation and transplant have proved to be the only hope for quite a big number of patients whose organs have failed hence endangering their lives (Huebert 350). Because of those opposed to organ donation for one reason or the other, there has been a limited supply of donated organs even as the numbers of patients in dire need of these organs and tissues continue to rise by the day. This paper persuades people to embrace organ donation so that some, if not all patients with organ failure conditions may not only have their pain alleviated but have their lives back. The Reasons to Support Organ Donation All over the globe, governments and private medical practitioners encourage citizens to consider donating their organs to save other peoples’ lives. Although most organs are donated after a donor’s brain death, there are situations in which living people donate a kidney, parts of their intestines, or skin to others (Huebert 351). In cases of deceased donations, organs such as heart, lungs, kidneys, or liver are harvested from brain dead patients and transplanted into the recipients’ bodies. The major driving force behind organ donation is the desire to save someone else’s life, even if the recipient is a stranger. Such a recipient could regain his/her life, live longer and successful lives after the transplant. In addition to the mentioned organs, eye cornea, skin, intestinal material, veins and arteries, heart valves, bone, tendons, and pancreas are also donated to save peoples’ lives and ability to function normally. There are more reasons for which people should support organ donation and actually donate organs to those in need of transplants. These reasons should encourage organ donation despite the many bioethical issues that surround this practice. First, despite the strong opposition to organ donation by some religious groups, most world religions consider it a charitable and generous act that not only benefits an individual but also society by saving and prolonging lives. As a potential organ donor, one should be aware of the fact that millions of patients are in need of critical organ and tissue transplants worldwide. Unfortunately, most of these patients die while waiting for donors to volunteer. Thus, by donating these vital organs, an individual may save more than one patient, in the process making a difference in these lives and those of recipients’ families, relatives, and friends. The only key requirement to qualify as an organ donor is to inform close ones such as family and guardians and to get parental or guardian consent for juveniles and those not able to make such decisions. Families or next of kin are required to sign a written consent before one may donate an organ or a tissue (Scheve 3). Thus, it is quite easy to donate a tissue or an organ to save other people and make their lives better and more bearable. The other reason one should support organ donation and donate is the freedom to choose which organ or tissue to donate. In fact, one is free to choose to donate all or some of his/her organs to a recipient of choice or to anyone who might need such organs in future. However, most deceased organ donations are anonymous and are given to patients depending on their needs, genetic match, and blood type among other factors. One factor that should not make people shy away from donating organs once dead is possible neglect by physicians or caretakers while a potential donor is still under treatment. In fact, the priority is always to save the prospective donor’s life and organ donation would only be considered after all attempts to save the potential donor’s life have failed (Goyal et al 1653). Unless specified before hand, all organ and tissue donations are always confidential and anonymous. One should also not worry that his/her organs might go to waste. On the contrary, a potential donor’s medical history is first discussed with family members and the organs to be donated are tested. What is more, even if found not suitable for donation, such tissues and organs could be used for other scientific and medical duties. Thus fear of organ wastage should not deter a person from enlisting as a donor. Further, persons of all ages can be organ and tissue donors provided their family consent to such an action since all patients, their ages notwithstanding, are entitled to donated organs and tissues (Goyal et al 1653). Ignore the Myths People should also not be discouraged by the many myths that surround the practice of organ donation. The first fiction is that any dead person could donate an organ. The truth is that not everyone is a suitable organ donor. Instead, all potential organ donors should be assessed and tested in a case by case basis. Nevertheless, almost any person can be a tissue donor. People should also disregard the myth that if one agrees to become a donor on dying, physicians would not be concerned with keeping him/her alive. The truth is that health care professionals are always concerned with saving peoples’ lives first, regardless of how critically ill they are. It is only after all efforts have failed that donation is considered (Goyal et al 1653). It is also not true that a recipient of a donated organ cannot donate the same organ on being rendered brain dead. As a matter of fact, a recipient can still become a donor upon dying. The other myth that should be ignored is that an earlier medical condition implies one cannot be a donor. Disregarding these myths would help those who frequently suffer from conditions that affect the pancreas; the kidney, the lung, the heart, and liver thus have high need for organ transplants. Finally, organ donors do not incur any financial losses or costs (Schwindt &Vining 41). Conclusion From the stated reasons, it is quite apparent that people should enlist as organ and tissue donors not only to alleviate others’ sufferings and pain but also to say their lives. The vital organs most affected by conditions that necessitate organ transplant include kidney, heart, liver, heart, and pancreas among others. It should be understood that age, sex, race, ethnicity, or medical history cannot prevent one from becoming a donor. In addition, that major world religions support organ donation makes it morally and religiously acceptable as it is shown to portray love and generosity towards humankind and reverence for life. Furthermore, the fact that organ donation has no cost implications for donors should encourage other to donate their organs while alive or when death is inevitable. The need to donate organs and tissues is also supported by statistics, which shows that the numbers of people in need of critical organ transplant are increasing by the day. Because it alleviates pain, distress, suffering, and saves life, organ donation and transplantation are morally accepted medical treatment for end stage organ failure. Works Cited Goyal, M., Mehta, R. L., Schneiderman, L. J., and Sehgal, A. R. “Economic and Health Consequences of Selling a Kidney in India,” 2002. Journal of the American Medical Association 288 (13): 1593. Huebert, J. H. Human Organs and eBay: A Combination That Could Save Lives, 1999. The Collegian. Scheve, T. How Organ Donation Works, 2012. Retrieved on July 18, 2012 from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/human-biology/organ-donation1.htm Schwindt, R., and Vining, A. “Proposal for a Mutual Insurance Pool for Transplant Organs,” 1998. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 23 (5), 41. Read More