One donor can save NINE lives and enhance the lives of FIFTY other people.
Donation is a gift-there is no charge to the donor’s family, or the donor’s estate. By visiting https://www.yesidaho.org/register/ or https://www.yesutah.org/register/ you are able to register for exactly what you would and would not like to donate. Registering on-line will ensure your wishes are known and upheld. A few minutes could relieve your family of that burden if ever placed in the situation. It is helpful to inform you family of your decision. Each state has it’s own donor registry. Look up yours to become a donor.
The following is taken from the “Say Yes! to Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation” campaign organized by the Idaho Donor Registy
One donor can save NINE lives and enhance the live of FIFTY other people.
Organ, eye, and tissue donation represents the figt of life form one individual to another. The Idaho Donor Registry ensures that those who want to donate can do so. Almost anyone can be a donor at the time of death, no matter what their age or medical condition. If you are under the age of 18, consent must be obtained from your parents or legal guardian at the time of donation. If you are over the age of 18 at the time of donation, family consent is not required, but your family will be notified of your wishes.
Donation Facts:
- Most medical conditions don’t revent one from being a donor.
- You may be a donor, even if blood donation is not possible.
- Donation does not prevent an oen casket funeral.
- You can dontae to age 80!
- The number one priority of hosital staff is to save your life.
- Donation does not interfere with funeral choices.
- Donation is a gift-there is no charge to the donor’s family, or the donor’s estate.
- All mainstream religions support donation. If you have a question about your religion, ask your religious leader.
Why not Say Yes?
Surverys show the reasons people say yes to organ and tissue donation are:
- To make some good come out of tradgedy
- Because we want to save lives
- It’s the right thing to do
Think about it…
- One organ donor can save the lives of nine people.
- A single eye and tissue donor can restore sight to two people and enhance the lives of up to 50 more.
- All mainstream religions support donation. If you have a question about your religion, ask your religious leader.
- Donation is a gift-there is no charge to the donor’s family, or the donor’s estate.
Examples of organs for life-saving transplants include heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs, and small bowel. Examples of tissues that could save or enhance someone’s life include eyes, heart balbes, bones, and skin grafts. Organ and tissue donation still allows for an open casket funeral.
So why should you say “yes” to organ and tissue donation? Because your decision could save the lives of up to nine people-ordinary people with families, jobs, hopes, and dreams, and improve the lives of 50 others, too…It’s saying “yes” to life itself.
When you donate, there is no cost to your family. All expenses are paid by the recovery agencies. The donor family pays for medical expenses incurred before death is declared and for funeral expenses. Your choice will never interfere with your medical care because organ and tissue recovery occurs only after all lifesaving efforts have been exhausted and death has been legally declared.
Saying “yes” and enrolling in the Idaho Donor Registry means your family will not need to make the decision to donate organs and tissue on your behalf. Your family will, however, be informed and cared for by hospital and agency professionals at the time of your death. Because your family will not be able to override your donation decision, it is helpful to inform your family of your decision to join the Donor Registry.
What is the Donor Registry?
The Idaho Donor Registry is a confidential database of individuals who desire to become organ and tissue donors upon their death. The registry, combined with federal and state law assures that a person’s donation wishes will be fulfilled. The Idaho Donor Registry is maintained by a coalition of non-profit donation/procurement agencies who serve the public. The information in the database is only made available to federally designated procurement agencies solely for the sake of donation. No information will be shared or sold to any company or government agency.
You have made a generous decision to give another person the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. This decision is a very important one. What does it mean?
1. Donation will only take place after death has been declared by a licensed physician who has no involvement in the transplant process.
2. The hospital and procurement agencies will review and obtain copies of medical records and autopsy records (if there is an autopsy) in order to determine if organs and tissues can be transplanted. This information will be shared with transplant hospitals and organizations facilitating the donation.
3. Someone from the procurement agency will talk to a medical decision maker or family about a donr’s medical and social history.
4. Blood and tissue will be drawn and tested for transmittable diseases.
5. Lymph nodes and the spleen may be removed to help determine a match with potential recipients.
6. There is no cost to a donor’s estate or family for donation. All medical costs unrelated to donation remain the responsibility of the donor’s insurance company or other resonsibile party. Funeral expenses also remain the reponsibility of the family or estate.
7. Removing organs and tissues includes careful reconstruction of all donors and the donation typically does not interfere with funeral plans, including open casket viewing. Complications such as swelling or bruising are rare, but can happen as with any surgical procedure or autopsy.
8. Both non-rofit and for-profit organizations may be involved in facilitating tissue donation in order to provide the maximum recipient benefit from the donation; this may include altering the form of tissue for the purposes of transplantation.
9. Organs and tissues are distributed according to local, state, and fereal laws and industry standards. Tissue unable to be placed in the united States may be made available to patients in other countries.
10. If donated organs and tissues cannot be used for transplant, they may be utilized for research or education, UNLESS specifically restricted.
Organs that may potentially be donated:
Heart, Lungs Liver, Kidneys, Pancreas, Small Bowel, Liver Cells, Pancreas Cells
Tissues that may potentially be donated:
Eyes (corneas), Skin Grafts, Heart Valves, Cartilage*, Bone Grafts*, Soft Tissue*, Vein/Artery*
*These tissue gifts may be recovered form the legs ribs, jaw, and/or arms
Organs and tissues are recovered via highly specialized surgical procedures in operating rooms. donors are treated with the highest dignity and respect.
If any of the information being provided in this pamphlet is not clear, if you would like to change or revoke your decision, or if you need specific questions answered, please contact the Idaho Donor Registry: 866-YES-IDAHO (866-937-4324) or visit the website at www.yesidaho.org.
