Organ donation?

[Guest guest]

In my opinion, organ donation should be brought up as a topic of discussion in

high school or middle school. The sooner young adults become aware of the

problem we face maybe better choices could be made and/or decisions to donate be

made. It seems to me that families of recipients think of organ donation more

than people who are willing to donate. I'm sure if there was a way to get the

word out and get it out to a younger audience maybe it could make a difference.

I'm sure many people die each year unaware of the difference they could have

made by donating their liver or other organ.

Thoughts?

MaC

abijann <no_reply > wrote:

Becoming a possible Transplant Patient.

Not everyone wants a transplant...it is your individual decision

and no one can make that decision for you. You need to weigh the

pros and cons. Don't let fear rule your thought, though...let it

be because you want to live and be with your loved ones longer.

My husband never had any surgery before this. The unknowns are

what causes most people to be fearful of proceeding forward. If

you learn more about the process, the transplant itself, and

you have contact with good physicians...you will have a lot of

support, maybe even meet people who have already gone through with

it. Plus, if you try to be put on the list early, not only will

you have a better chance of an organ...but you will have time

to get to know all the people involved and also receive the best

of care than you would receive otherwise. There is always a

chance, that if you are in fairly good health, you will be taken

off the list...but this will give you more chance of being placed

back on faster if your condition could change for the worst.

To find out more about transplant: Go to the " Transplant Center "

website that is closest to your home or look at any of them

that do the type of transplant you need. The " UNOS " website is

also very good and even " Liver Foundation " . There are many

others on the web.

You don't want to be a burden...this is true of all patients.

There comes a time in every persons life that unless they

die suddenly, like in a car crash, that they will need someone

else to take care of them. You are not a burden...you are

someone who needs care and if you should not need that care

any longer, you will become independent again. There is a

time to take care of people and a time given for others to

show their compassion and show how much they care, by being

there for you.

I'm not financially able to afford a transplant. Transplant

Centers have social workers that will be able to help you

deal with this matter. There are many ways of obtaining

the funds you need.

If I ask questions, I am considered stupid. No, if you don't

ask questions...that is stupid. You are the patient and

you are paying the medical professionals good money to take

care of you. If you don't get the answers you need to know,

go above their heads and don't be afraid to do this.

When you ask any questions, they need to take time to explain

things to you..it is one of your rights.

I don't want them doing this procedure on me. You have the

right to refuse any test, procedure, or operation that is done

on you. However, be very careful that you know all that is

involved. You need to know why they think it is very important

to have this done; you need to know if there are any other

options; You need to speak up and ask to speak to the main

doctor directly about what is involved, what to expect, and

how necessary it is. Once you sign a release form stating

you do not want it done...you released them from any legal

responsibility of being held responsible for your well being.

Some doctors, who have patients who refuse care, will mark

the patient as being non-compliant and this is a serious

mark against anyone trying to receive an organ on the

transplant list.

You should start now to have an advanced directive or a living

will. Even, power of attorney. Some advanced directive or

living will forms are found free on line. However, if you

fill one out, be sure that two witnesses sign it or better

yet, take it to a notary republic so they place their stamp on

it. Power of attorney is usually done by a lawyer.

When you have cirrhosis, you could start to have encephalopathy.

What this is,is toxins may go to the brain causing a decrease

in your mental capacity. Also, when you are in surgery and

something comes up...you are not able to answer for yourself.

You need someone there who can speak for you. With the

tremendous PRIVACY laws they have nowadays, It will burden

your family tremendously if they have to handle your bills,

medical records and doctors without one of these forms giving

them the right to do this. EVen though, the laws say that

a spouse has the right to speak for their husband/wife, each

medical professional and other people do not accept it. If

you want less worries for your family and to be on the safe

side, please see that you have one of these done. You be

surprised how much you may have to use it. I have had to

use our about 20 times now and either fax or present a copy

to them. They even told me at the hospital, that every time

my husband is admitted...they need a copy of it. BIG PAIN

He is right in the room telling them it is okay, but I guess

his word isn't any good either...they have to have it written

down for their records. Be sure, whatever form you do fill

out that it states, also, that they have access to any

records or information of any sort regarding you and that

they are not to be held to any privacy laws pertaining to you.

Well, enough for now. Many have heard all this before.

I usually update what I say as time can change many things.

I wish you all the best.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Good post, MaC. Yes, educating youngsters is a good way to go. Look how

successful anti-smoking and seatbelt use campaigns have been among children.

In Italy there's a celebration each year of a young British boy who died a

number of years ago. His parents allowed his organs to be used when he died in

an accident while on holiday. Prior to this event organ transplantation was

virtually unknown in Italy, and something like 20 people received his organs,

including skin grafts. The publicity surrounding the generosity of the

grief-stricken parents raised Italian consciousness about organ donation, and

it's now much more commonplace today.

When my first husband died suddenly in 2000, his organs went to a number of

people, including his corneas. This was despite his having had both lenses

replaced with artificial lenses due to cataracts he contracted at a young age

(due most likely to sun damage). I was touched to receive a letter from our

county coroner a few months after Bill's death thanking me for approving the

donations (he carried a donor card, but they still needed my permission) and

detailing some of the organ's uses.

Dorothy

Dorothy