Federal Health Experts Clarify Organ Donation Inquiries
Hey there! You've got questions about organ donation, age limits, and the process. Here's a breakdown of those queries and answers:
I'm 81 years old. Can I still donate organs?
Don't let your age hold you back! In essence, there's no age limit for organ donation. Both kidneys and the liver can keep functioning well beyond a person's lifespan, as they are filter organs that regenerate continuously.
If I want to die at home, does that make organ donation irrelevant?
For organ donation from deceased individuals, brain death is crucial. This means the brainstem, cerebellum, and cerebral hemispheres have sustained irreversible damage. To preserve potential donor organs, artificial life support for the heart-lung system is necessary, something only achievable in an intensive care unit. However, most deaths occur due to cardiac arrest before brain death.
Can a brain-dead person come back to life?
Although extensive efforts are made to keep the heart-lung system active following brain death, brain tissue deterioration is unavoidable. This does not permit a return to life.
Who decides if organs can be removed from a deceased person?
In an ideal world, this decision would be made during the donor's lifetime via an organ donor card, the organ donor registry, or an advance directive. If no such documents exist, family members are asked to make a decision based on the deceased's wishes.
What's the purpose of the organ donor registry? I have a donor card.
While donor cards can be misplaced or lost, the organ donor registry is always accessible. In urgent situations, authorized hospital personnel can access the registry at any time, ensuring your rights are protected while alleviating stress for your family and treating physicians.
If I don't care about my organs, why not let my children decide?
Your children might find it stressful to make an organ donation decision in an already difficult situation.
What organ is most in demand?
Currently, around 8,260 people in Germany are waiting for a donor organ, with most needing a kidney. On average, three individuals pass away each day due to a lack of a suitable organ in time.
How long does a transplanted kidney last in the recipient's body?
Out of every 100 transplanted kidneys, 75 are still functioning five years post-surgery.
Can I choose to donate specific organs?
Absolutely! You have the option to specify which organs or tissues you'd like to donate and which you wouldn't like to donate.
My uncle is on the kidney transplant waiting list. Where would he get the kidney from?
The Eurotransplant Foundation manages the exchange of all donor organs within a network consisting of eight European countries: Belgium, Germany, Croatia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia, and Hungary. Eurotransplant facilitates matches between patients in need of a transplant and reported donor characteristics. Due to the large patient pool, a suitable match is often found.
If donor organs are distributed across Europe, how do they remain functional? Can they be frozen?
No, organs cannot be frozen. Instead, they are transported in a few hours via ground or air to the destination transplant center within special cooling containers.
Is my body disfigured after organ donation?
Rest assured, your body remains the same. After organ removal in a normal operating room, doctors close the surgical incisions and dress the wounds. Relatives can receive the body in a dignified state for burial, permitting goodBYES in the desired manner.
Contact the German organ donation hotline at 0800/90 40 400 for free information (Monday-Friday 9 am to 6 pm), or request free organ donation cards/information material by mail at [email protected]. Information is also available online at www.organspende-info.de.
Info: In Germany, the process for specifying and donating specific organs for transplantation involves several steps within an explicit informed consent system. Key aspects include registration of intent, informed consent, specifying organs, registration and documentation, and legal and ethical considerations. Despite ongoing efforts to increase donation rates, the explicit consent system remains in place.
Science plays a crucial role in medical-conditions like organ donation, as accuracy, efficiency, and ethical considerations are paramount in health-and-wellness activities related to organ donation. For instance, understanding the regenerative capabilities of organs like kidneys and the liver (science) is essential in determining age limits for organ donation (medical-conditions).
