Busting the Myths about Organ Donation
For years, myths and misconceptions have prevented people from signing up as donors. Read about some of the common myths and urban legends below.
- If I'm a donor, they'll take out my organs before I'm really dead.
- If I'm in an accident and the hospital knows that I am designated as a donor, the doctors won't try to save my life.
- I heard about this guy who went to a party, and woke up the next morning in a bathtub full of ice. His kidneys were stolen for sale on the black market!
- I am too old to be a donor.
- I have a history of medical illness. No one could benefit from my donation.
- Even if I say I want to donate my corneas, they will take all of my organs.
- I don't need to tell my family that I'd like to be a donor because it's already written in my will.
- My family will have to pay if I become a donor.
- My religion does not approve of donation.
- Organ and tissue donation means my body will be disfigured. My family will not be able to have an open casket funeral if I become a donor.
- Rich and famous people get moved to the top of the waiting list while "regular" people have to wait longer for a transplant.
- The recipient will know who I am.
If I'm a registered donor, they'll take out my organs before I'm really dead.
Brain death (when the brain dies due to lack of blood and oxygen) is a medically, legally, and morally accepted determination of death. To determine brain death, more than one diagnosis of brain death and a series of tests over a period of time are required before the donor's family is presented with the opportunity to donate.
If I'm in an accident and the hospital knows that I am designated as a donor, the doctors won't try to save my life.
The medical team treating you is completely separate from the transplant team. Donation is not even considered until a person has died. The organ and tissue donor program is not notified until all lifesaving efforts have failed, next of kin has been notified and death has occurred. The organ and tissue donor program does not notify the transplant team until consent to donation has been obtained.
I heard about this guy who went to a party, and woke up the next morning in a bathtub full of ice. His kidneys were stolen for sale on the black market!
There is absolutely no documented case of this ever happening. This story is a hoax and has become a famous, yet harmful, urban myth. Due to the complexity of transplantation, the necessity of involvement from trained medical professionals, the process of matching donors with recipients, the need for highly skilled medical professionals to perform the surgery, the need for modern medical facilities and the support necessary for transplantation make it impossible for this "legend" to actually occur.
I am too old to be a donor.
Age limits for organ and tissue donations no longer exist. Trained medical professional will evaluate patients on a case-by-case basis to determine which organs and tissues are suitable for donation.
I have a history of medical illness. No one could benefit from my donation.
A person's suitability for organ or tissue donation is always determined at the time of death. Clinical professionals from the organ and tissue donor program will review medical and social histories with the donor's family at the time of death, on a case-by-case basis to determine if the donor is medically suitable.
Even if I say I want to only donate my corneas, they will take all of my organs.
You can specify which organ and tissues you want to donate in your will or by telling your family which specific gifts you would like to donate at the time of your death. Your wishes will be followed.
I don't need to tell my family that I'd like to be a donor because it's already written in my will.
By the time your will is read, it will be too late for you to be a donor. Telling your family now that you want to be an organ and tissue donor is the best way to make certain your wishes are honored.
My family will have to pay if I become a donor.
There are no costs to a donor's family or estate. All costs incurred during the donation process are the responsibility of the organ and tissue donor program.
My religion does not approve of donation.
All organized religions support donation, typically considering it a generous act that is the individual's choice.
Organ and tissue donation means my body will be disfigured. My family will not be able to have an open casket funeral if I become a donor.
Donated organs are removed surgically, in a routine operation similar to other surgery. Donation does not interfere with customary funeral arrangements, such as open casket viewing.
Rich and famous people get moved to the top of the waiting list while "regular" people have to wait longer for a transplant.
The organ allocation and distribution system is blind to wealth or social status. The length of time it takes to receive a transplant is governed by many factors including blood type, length of time on the waiting list, severity of illness and other medical criteria. Factors such as race, gender, age, income or celebrity status are never considered when determining who receives an organ.
The recipient will know who I am.
Information about the donor is released to the recipient only if the family of the donor requests or agrees to it. Otherwise, the strictest confidence of patient privacy is maintained for both donor families and recipients.
Register to Be a Donor
It’s easy to add the donor designation to your driver's license or state I.D. card. In Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Sign up today!
