Organ donation – live and let live

Organ donation – live and let live

ULSTER HERALD
Thu, Oct 4, 2007

Nobody ever likes to think about death and dying but, as the man says, it's going to happen one day whether we like it or not. Some of us will live long, happy, healthy lives. But for others, the unlucky ones, life can become a living death sentence – a long, drawn out process with little or no hope of a reprieve.

Waiting for an organ transplant is quite possibly one of the most difficult situations to endure, whether young or not so young, and for many, the chance for survival is cruelly taken away, whilst for others, the chance comes just in the nick of time. Organ donation is a tricky situation, and whether donating or receiving, there are many associated problems to be endured and resolved. It can never be an easy decision to take for the families of the deceased and in many cases, causes a great deal of heartache to the families.

One startling revelation made recently by UK Transplant, the NHS organisation responsible for matching and allocating donated organs, is that you and I are more likely to need a transplant than to become a donor. This is mainly because we live in a society where there is an increase in the numbers of individuals living for longer – a rising and ageing population.

There have been numerous studies carried out on the subject of organ donation but one constant conclusion they have reached is that, in theory at least, the majority of the public support organ donation.

Currently, the NHS Organ Donor Register, which is a confidential database operated by UK Transplant, now contains the names of more than 14.6 million individuals who wish to pass on the gift of life through organ donation after their death – that's roughly 24% of the total population. Sounds good, doesn't it, and yet, whilst there are more than 9,000 people in Britain in need of an organ transplant which could dramatically improve their life and indeed, save it, there are less than 3,000 transplants carried out each year. That's a discrepancy which is difficult to live with.

Of course, there is an enormous difference between 'heartbeating' donors and deceased donors. A deceased donor can donate a heart, lungs, two kidneys, pancreas, liver and can restore the sight of two people by donating their corneas. They can also give tissue such as skin, where the skin is used to treat burn victims, and bone which is used in orthopaedic surgery. A 'heartbeating' donor, such as a kidney donor, now accounts for one in three of all kidney transplants. The number of kidney transplants has trebled since 1995, which is a remarkable success. The sad fact remains, however, that more than 400 patients die each year while waiting for a transplant.

The National Transplant database was launched in 1972 and in its first year, 456 people received a transplant. Last year (April '05 - March '07) that figure grew to 3,087. However, the increase of patients being referred for transplants meant that there are still 7,234 actively waiting to receive an organ. There is no doubt about it, transplants are the most miraculous achievements of modern medicine but the medical profession is entirely dependant on the generosity of donors and their families – the only people who can make this life saving gift to those in need.

It's interesting that UK Transplant work closely with all the major religious faiths including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, and while there are many schools of thought on the subject, all of these major religious groups are in support of organ donation and transplantation.

Over the next six months, half of homes will receive a leaflet containing the facts about organ donation through their letterboxes as part of the UK Transplant's "My Life, My Gift" campaign. The organisation's managing and transplant director, Chris Rudge, makes a personal appeal for action by the general public, stating, "Organ and tissue donation is a truly amazing gift that saves and transforms thousands of lives every year – but over 400 people die every year because no suitable donated organ is available". The mail campaign will go to all 726,000 households in Northern Ireland in November.

To find out more about organ donation and to join the NHS Organ Donor Register, call the Organ Donor Line on 0845 60 60 400 or visit www.mylifemygift.org

http://www.nwipp-newspapers.com/UH/free/290436434216687.php