Want to be a Real-Life Superhero? Pledge to be an Organ Donor

Here’s all you need to know about organ donation and how you can register to be a donor.

There’s a way to fulfill your dream of becoming a superhero. And it’s super easy. Register yourself as an organ donor.

(Photo: Rhythum Seth/FIT)

So, have you ever wanted to be a superhero? Have you looked on with awe at Wonder Woman and wished to be like her? Or perhaps you may have imagined yourself as Spiderman, saving innocent civilians from all sorts of catastrophes?

Well, fret no more, because there is an easy way of fulfilling the fantasy of becoming a superhero. Register yourself as an organ donor.

Your organs are of no use to you or your family after you pass away. But they can be of use for several families and save multiple lives. Imagine a situation (which we hope is way ahead in the future) where a life is hanging by a thread because of organ failure and the doctors can’t do anything about it.

And to think that all you need to help that life continue is simply pledge for donation and donate an organ when you leave this world.

How to Pledge Your Organs for Donation

Organ donors can be living or deceased. However, your organs can only be up for donation after your death if you register to do so beforehand.

A living donor can donate a kidney, a portion of pancreas and liver to their immediate blood relative but an individual declared brain dead, who is otherwise healthy, can help multiple persons. Their heart, two kidneys, lungs, liver, corneas, even the bones and skin can be used to infuse new life into others.

There is a huge gap between demand and supply of human organs and tissues. In India, 1-1.5 lakh patients require kidney transplants but only 3500-4000 patients receive it. Similarly, 1 lakh patients are in need of corneal transplant but only 25,000 patients undergo it. In case of heart transplant, the scenario is much more dismal.

Here’s how you can be a superhero and pledge your organs for donation.

Anyone, regardless of age, race or gender can become an organ and tissue donor. If they are under the age of 18, then the consent of parent or legal guardian is essential. Medical suitability for donation is determined at the time of death.

Is the Pledge Legally Binding?

India’s laws, however, present another step in this story. Your pledge to donate organs is not legally binding. The donor card is a means of expressing one’s willingness to donate their organs and make their family more understanding towards the cause.

The authority to give consent for organ donation lies with the person lawfully in possession of the dead body.

A written consent form from the lawful custodian of the body is needed to proceed with the removal of organs for donation.

So, do discuss your decision with your family members. It helps to prepare them to comply with your wishes when the time comes. Hospitals and organisations have counsellors to help families make the decision and go through the process.

Unless you specify that you want to donate your organs and your next-of-kin agrees, they are left in the body.

Few of the organ donation agencies that you can go to are: the government’s site notto.nic.in, AIIMS affiliated organisation OROB, or the NGO Mohan Foundation.

When Are Your Organs Viable for Donation?

Organs are up for donation once a person is declared brain dead. A panel of four doctors needs to declare brain stem death twice in a time frame of six hours. These are: the medical administrator in charge of the hospital, an authorised specialist, a neurologist/neuro-surgeon and the medical officer treating the patient.

Healthy organs should be transplanted as soon as possible from the donor to the recipient. Once you die, organ donation can only happen with rapid access to medical care.  If organs are not kept oxygenated, they become unviable.

There is neither charge nor payment made on account of organ donation.

What India Can Learn From Spain

Many experts believe that India should adopt a model similar to Spain, if we seriously want to bridge the current gap in organ donations. In Spain, a citizen automatically becomes an organ donor at birth unless they officially ‘Opt Out’ of donation.

The system works on presumed consent. The deceased’s consent to organ donation is presumed unless their name is on the nation’s refusal registry.

This system has made Spain the world leader in organ donations.

India’s organ donation rate in 2016 stood at an abysmal 0.8 persons per million population compared to Spain’s 36 per million, Croatia’s 32 per million or US’ 26 per million.

There is lack of awareness about deceased organ and tissue donation in society. Acute shock due to the sudden loss of near and dears, non-acceptance of brain death as death, religious myths, fear of disfigurement and divided opinion are some of the conflicting factors which prevent people from donating organs and tissues after brain death.

Organ donation can be successful if it is accepted by the society as a way of life, as something which is not just a gift of life to a stranger but an essential for preservation of human society.

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How to Pledge Your Organs for Donation

Organ donors can be living or deceased. However, your organs can only be up for donation after your death if you register to do so beforehand.

A living donor can donate a kidney, a portion of pancreas and liver to their immediate blood relative but an individual declared brain dead, who is otherwise healthy, can help multiple persons. Their heart, two kidneys, lungs, liver, corneas, even the bones and skin can be used to infuse new life into others.

There is a huge gap between demand and supply of human organs and tissues. In India, 1-1.5 lakh patients require kidney transplants but only 3500-4000 patients receive it. Similarly, 1 lakh patients are in need of corneal transplant but only 25,000 patients undergo it. In case of heart transplant, the scenario is much more dismal.

Here’s how you can be a superhero and pledge your organs for donation.

Anyone, regardless of age, race or gender can become an organ and tissue donor. If they are under the age of 18, then the consent of parent or legal guardian is essential. Medical suitability for donation is determined at the time of death.

Is the Pledge Legally Binding?

India’s laws, however, present another step in this story. Your pledge to donate organs is not legally binding. The donor card is a means of expressing one’s willingness to donate their organs and make their family more understanding towards the cause.

The authority to give consent for organ donation lies with the person lawfully in possession of the dead body.

A written consent form from the lawful custodian of the body is needed to proceed with the removal of organs for donation.

So, do discuss your decision with your family members. It helps to prepare them to comply with your wishes when the time comes. Hospitals and organisations have counsellors to help families make the decision and go through the process.

Unless you specify that you want to donate your organs and your next-of-kin agrees, they are left in the body.

Few of the organ donation agencies that you can go to are: the government’s site notto.nic.in, AIIMS affiliated organisation OROB, or the NGO Mohan Foundation.

When Are Your Organs Viable for Donation?

Organs are up for donation once a person is declared brain dead. A panel of four doctors needs to declare brain stem death twice in a time frame of six hours. These are: the medical administrator in charge of the hospital, an authorised specialist, a neurologist/neuro-surgeon and the medical officer treating the patient.

Healthy organs should be transplanted as soon as possible from the donor to the recipient. Once you die, organ donation can only happen with rapid access to medical care.  If organs are not kept oxygenated, they become unviable.

There is neither charge nor payment made on account of organ donation.

What India Can Learn From Spain

Many experts believe that India should adopt a model similar to Spain, if we seriously want to bridge the current gap in organ donations. In Spain, a citizen automatically becomes an organ donor at birth unless they officially ‘Opt Out’ of donation.

The system works on presumed consent. The deceased’s consent to organ donation is presumed unless their name is on the nation’s refusal registry.

This system has made Spain the world leader in organ donations.

India’s organ donation rate in 2016 stood at an abysmal 0.8 persons per million population compared to Spain’s 36 per million, Croatia’s 32 per million or US’ 26 per million.

There is lack of awareness about deceased organ and tissue donation in society. Acute shock due to the sudden loss of near and dears, non-acceptance of brain death as death, religious myths, fear of disfigurement and divided opinion are some of the conflicting factors which prevent people from donating organs and tissues after brain death.

Organ donation can be successful if it is accepted by the society as a way of life, as something which is not just a gift of life to a stranger but an essential for preservation of human society.