Essay on Organ Donation for Students and Children

500+ words essay on organ donation.

Essay on Organ Donation – Organ donation is a process in which a person willingly donates an organ of his body to another person. Furthermore, it is the process of allowing the removal of one’s organ for its transplanting in another person. Moreover, organ donation can legally take place by the consent of the donor when he is alive. Also, organ donation can also take place by the assent of the next of kin of a dead person. There has been a significant increase in organ donations due to the advancement of medical science.

Essay on Organ Donation

Organ Donation in Different Countries

First of all, India follows the opt-in system regarding organ donation. Furthermore, any person wishing to donate an organ must fill a compulsory form. Most noteworthy, this form is available on the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. Also, The Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994, controls organ donation in India.

The need for organ donation in the United States is growing at a considerable rate. Furthermore, there has also been a significant rise in the number of organ donors in the United States. Most noteworthy, organ donation in the United States takes place only by the consent of the donor or their family. Nevertheless, plenty of organizations are pushing for opt-out organ donation

Within the European Union, the regulation of organ donation takes place by the member states. Furthermore, many European countries have some form of an opt-out system. Moreover, the most prominent opt-out systems are in Austria, Spain, and Belgium. In England, no consent is presumed and organ donation is a voluntary process.

Argentina is a country that has plenty of awareness regarding organ donation. Most noteworthy, the congress of Argentina introduced an opt-out organ donation policy. Moreover, this means that every person over 18 years of age will be a donor unless they or their family state their negative. However, in 2018, another law was passed by congress. Under the new law, the family requirement was removed. Consequently, this means that the organ donor is the only person who can state their negative.

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Benefits of Organ Donation

First of all, organ donation is very helpful for the grieving process. Furthermore, many donor families take relief and consolation due to organ donation. This is because they understand that their loved one has helped save the life of other people. Most noteworthy, a single donor can save up to eight lives.

Organ donation can also improve the quality of life of many people. An eye transplant could mean the ability to see again for a blind person. Similarly, donating organs could mean removing the depression and pain of others. Most noteworthy, organ donation could also remove the dependency on costly routine treatments.

Organ donation is significantly beneficial for medical science research. Donated organs offer an excellent tool for conducting scientific researches and experiments. Furthermore, many medical students can greatly benefit from these organs. Most noteworthy, beneficial medical discoveries could result due to organ donation. Organ donation would also contribute to the field of Biotechnology.

To sum it up, organ donation is a noble deed. Furthermore, it shows the contribution of an individual even after death. Most noteworthy, organ donation can save plenty of lives. Extensive awareness regarding organ donation must certainly be spread among the people.

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Essay on Organ Donation

Students are often asked to write an essay on Organ Donation in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Organ Donation

What is organ donation.

Organ donation is when a person allows their organs to be given to someone who needs them after they die. The organs can be the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, or intestines. Giving an organ can save the life of someone with a sick organ that doesn’t work well.

Who Can Donate?

Almost anyone can be an organ donor. Adults and, with parent’s permission, children can choose to donate. Doctors check if the donor’s organs are healthy enough to be given to another person.

The Process of Donating

When a person dies, doctors see if they can donate. If yes, the organs are taken out carefully and quickly given to patients who need them. The donor’s family does not have to pay for this.

The Need for Donors

Many people are waiting for an organ, but there aren’t enough donors. More donors mean more people can get the help they need. It’s important to talk with your family about your choice to donate.

Organ donation is a kind act that can save lives. If you decide to be a donor, you could help someone else live a longer, healthier life after you’re gone.

Also check:

  • Speech on Organ Donation

250 Words Essay on Organ Donation

Organ donation is when a person allows their organs to be given to someone else who needs them after they die. Sometimes, living people can also give one of their kidneys or a part of their liver to help another person.

Why is Organ Donation Important?

Organ donation is very important because it can save lives. Many people are sick with organs that do not work well, and they need new ones to become healthy again. Without new organs, these people might not live for very long.

Almost anyone can be an organ donor. It does not matter how old you are or what your background is. The most important thing is that the organs are healthy. Doctors check this very carefully before they put the organs into another person’s body.

How to Become a Donor

To become an organ donor, you can sign up on a special list or tell your family about your wish to donate. This way, if something happens to you, the doctors will know that you want to give your organs to help others.

Respect and Care

When organs are taken from a donor, doctors treat the donor with a lot of respect and care. The donor’s family is also given support during this tough time.

In summary, organ donation is a generous act that can give someone a second chance at life. It is a simple process to sign up, and it shows a big heart to help others in need.

500 Words Essay on Organ Donation

Organ donation is a kind act where a person allows their organs to be moved into another person’s body. When someone’s organ, like their heart or kidney, stops working well, they might need a new one. Organ donation is a way to give them a healthy organ. This can save their lives or help them feel better.

Almost anyone can choose to donate their organs. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what your background is. When a person decides to donate their organs, doctors will check to make sure the organs are healthy and can help someone else. There are two times when a person can donate: when they are still alive or after they pass away. Living people can donate parts of their liver, one kidney, or a piece of their lung. After a person dies, they can donate many organs if they said yes to donation before.

Organ donation is very important because it can save lives. Many people are waiting for an organ, and sometimes they have to wait a long time. Without a new organ, these people might not survive. By donating organs, you can help them live longer and enjoy life with their families and friends.

How Do You Become a Donor?

To become an organ donor, you need to tell others that you want to donate. You can do this by signing up on a special list or telling your family about your choice. It’s also a good idea to carry a card in your wallet that says you are a donor. This way, if something happens to you, doctors will know that you want to give your organs to help others.

The Process of Donation

If a person who wants to donate their organs passes away, doctors will check if their organs are still healthy. If they are, the organs are carefully taken out and kept in a special way so they stay healthy. Then, the organs are quickly taken to the person who needs them. Doctors will do an operation to put the new organ in the person’s body.

Concerns and Myths

Some people are worried about donating their organs. They might think that doctors won’t try to save their lives if they are donors, but this isn’t true. Doctors always work hard to save every person’s life. Another worry is about how the body will look after donation. The truth is, doctors are very careful, and the body will look the same as before.

Organ donation is a very special choice that can make a big difference in someone’s life. It’s a way to show kindness and help others even after you’re gone. By learning about organ donation and talking to your family, you can decide if it’s right for you. Remember, your choice to donate your organs could be the reason someone else gets to live a longer and happier life.

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Organ Donation Essay

short essay on organ donation

Table of Contents

Organ donation has proved to be a miracle for the society. Organs such as kidneys, heart, eyes, liver, small intestine, bone tissues, skin tissues and veins are donated for the purpose of transplantation. The donor gives a new life to the recipient by the way of this noble act. Organ donation is encouraged worldwide. The government of different countries have put up different systems in place to encourage organ donation. However, the demand for organs is still quite high as compared to their supply. Effective steps must be taken to meet this ever-increasing demand.

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Long and Short Essay on Organ Donation in English

We have provided below short and long essay on organ donation in simple English for your information and knowledge.

After going through the essays you will know the significance of organ donation for someone in need, the procedure involved, under what circumstances is it illegal to donate an organ and what are safe physical criterion for organ donation.

You can use these organ donation essay in your school college events wherein you need to give a speech, write an essay or take part in debate.

Essay on Organ Donation in 200 words

Organ donation is done by both living and deceased donors. The living donors can donate one of the two kidneys, a lung or a part of a lung, one of the two lobes of their liver, a part of the intestines or a part of the pancreas. While a deceased donor can donate liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, pancreas, cornea tissue, skin tissue, tendons and heart valves.

The organ donation process varies from country to country. The process has broadly been classified into two categories – Opt in and Opt out. Under the opt-in system, one is proactively required to register for donation of his/ her organs while in the opt-out system, every individual becomes a donor post death unless he/she opts-out of it.

There is a huge demand for organs. It is sad how several people in different parts of the world die each year waiting for organ transplant. The governments of different countries are taking steps to raise the supply of organs and in certain parts the number of donors has increased. However, the requirement of organs has simultaneously increased at a much rapid speed.

Each one of us should come forward and register to donate organs after death. “Be an organ donor, all it costs is a little love”.

Also Check: Essay on Organ Trafficking

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Essay on Organ Donation in 300 words

Organ donation takes place when an organ of a person’s body is removed with his consent while he is alive or with the consent of his family member after his death for the purpose of research or transplant. Kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, bones, bone marrow, corneas, intestines and skin are transplanted to give new life to the receiver.

Organ Donation Process

  • Living Donors

Living donors require undergoing thorough medical tests before organ donation. This also includes psychological evaluation of the donor to ensure whether he understands the consequences of donation and truly consents for it.

  • Deceased Donors

In case of the deceased donors, it is first verified that the donor is dead. The verification of death is usually done multiple times by a neurologist. It is then determined if any of his/ her organs can be donated.

After death, the body is kept on a mechanical ventilator to ensure the organs remain in good condition. Most organs work outside the body only for a couple of hours and thus it is ensured that they reach the recipient immediately after removal.

Gap between Demand and Supply

The demand for organs is considerably higher than the number of donors around the world. Each year several patients die waiting for donors. Statistics reveal that in India against an average annual demand for 200,000 kidneys, only 6,000 are received. Similarly, the average annual demand for hearts is 50,000 while as low as 15 of them are available.

The need for organ donation needs to be sensitized among the public to increase the number of donors. The government has taken certain steps such as spreading awareness about the same by way of TV and internet. However, we still have a long way to go.

Organ donation can save a person’s life. Its importance must not be overlooked. A proper system should be put in place for organ donation to encourage the same.

Essay on Organ Donation in 400 words

Organ donation is the process of allowing organ or tissue to be removed surgically from one person to place it in another person or to use it for research purpose. It is done by the consent of donor in case he is alive or by the consent of next of kin after death. Organ donation is encouraged worldwide.

Kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, bones, bone marrow, skin, pancreas, corneas, intestines and skin are commonly used for transplantation to render new life to the recipient. Organ donation is mostly done after the donor’s death. However, certain organs and tissues such as a kidney, lobe of a lung, portion of the liver, intestine or pancreas can be donated by living donors as well.

Organ Donation Consent Process

There are two types of consents when it comes to organ donation. These are the explicit consent and the presumed consent.

  • Explicit Consent: Under this the donor provides a direct consent through registration and carrying out other required formalities based on the country.
  • Presumed Consent: This does not include a direct consent from the donor or the next of kin. As the name suggests, it is assumed that the donation would have been allowed by the potential donor in case consent was pursued.

Among the possible donors approximately twenty five percent of the families deny donation of their loved one’s organs.

Organ Donation in India

  • Legalised by Law

Organ donations are legal as per the Indian law. The Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994 enacted by the government of India permits organ donation and legalizes the concept of brain death.

  • Documentation and Formalities

The donor is required to fill a prescribed form. The same can be taken from the hospital or other medical facility approached for organ donation or can be downloaded from the ministry of health and family welfare government of India’s website.

In case of a deceased donor, a written consent from the lawful custodian is required in the prescribed application form.

As is the case with the rest of the world, the demand of organs in India is much higher compared to their supply. There is a major shortage of donated organs in the country. Several patients are on the wait list and many of them succumb to death waiting for organ transplant.

The government of India is making efforts to spread awareness about organ transplant to encourage the same. However, it needs to take effective steps to raise the number of donors.

Essay on Organ Donation in 500 words

Organ donation refers to the process of giving organs or tissues to a living recipient who requires a transplant. Organ donation is mostly done after death. However, certain organs can be donated even by a living donor.

The organs that are mostly used for the purpose of transplant include kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, intestines, lungs, bones and bone marrow. Each country follows its own procedure for organ donation. Here is a look at how different countries encourage and process organ donation.

Organ Donation Process – Opt In and Opt Out

While certain countries follow the organ donation opt-in procedure others have the opt-out procedure in place. Here is a look at the difference between these two processes of organ donation:

  • Opt In System: In the opt-in system, people are required to proactively sign up for the donation of their organs after death.
  • Opt Out System: Under this system, organ donation automatically occurs unless a person specifically makes a request to opt out before death.

Organ Donation in Different Countries

India follows the opt-in system when it comes to organ donation. Anyone who wishes to donate organs needs to fill a prescribed form available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India’s website.

In order to control organ commerce and encourage donation after brain death, the government of India came up with the law, The Transplantation of Human Organs Act in the year 1994. This brought about a considerable change in terms of organ donation in the country.

Spain is known to be the world leader in organ donations. It follows the opt-out system for organ donation.

  • United States

The need for organs in the United States is growing at a rapid pace. Though there has been a rise in the number of organ donors, however, the number of patients waiting for the organs has increased at a much higher rate. Organ donation in the United States is done only with the consent of the donor or their family. However, several organizations here are pushing for the opt-out organ donation.

  • United Kingdom

Organ donation in the United Kingdom is voluntary. Individuals who want to donate their organs after death can register for the same.

This is the only country that has been able to overcome the shortage of transplant organs. It has a legal payment system for organ donation and is also the only country that has legalized organ trade.

Organ donation is quite low in Japan as compared to other western countries. This is mainly due to cultural reasons, distrust in western medicines and a controversial organ transplant that took place in 1968.

In Columbia, the ‘Law 1805’ passed in August 2016, introduced the opt-out policy for organ donation.

Chile opted for the opt-out policy for organ donation under the, ‘Law 20,413’ wherein all the citizens above the age of 18 years will donate organs unless they specifically deny it before death.

Most of the countries around the world suffer from low organ donor rate. The issue must be taken more seriously. Laws to increase the rate of organ donation must be put in place to encourage the same.

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Essay on Organ Donation in 600 words

Organ Donation is the surgical removal of a living or dead donor’s organs to place them in the recipient to render him/her a new life. Organ donation has been encouraged worldwide. However, the demand of human organs far outweighs the supply. Low rate of organ donation around the world can be attributed to various reasons. These reasons are discussed below in detail.

Teleological Issues

The moral status of the black market organ donation is debatable. While some argue in favour of it others are absolutely against the concept. It has been seen that those who donate their organs are generally from the poor section of the society and those who can afford these are quite well off. There is thus an imbalance in the trade.

It has been observed that those who can purchase the organs are taking advantage of the ones who are desperate to sell. This is said to be one of the reasons for the rising inequality of status between the rich and the poor. On the other hand, it is argued that those who want to sell their organs should be allowed to do so as preventing them from it is only contributing to their status as impoverished. Those who are in favour of the organ trade also argue that exploitation is preferable to death and hence organ trade must be legalized. However, as per a survey, later in life the living donors regret their decision of donating their organs.

Several cases of organ theft have also come forward. While those in support of the legalization of organ market say that this happens because of the black market nature of trade while others state that legalizing it would only result in the rise of such crimes as the criminal can easily state that the organ being sold has not been stolen.

Deontological Issues

These are defined by a person’s ethical duty to take action. Almost all the societies in the world believe that donating organs voluntarily is ethically permissible. Many scholars believe that everyone should donate their organs after death.

However, the main issue from the standpoint of deontological ethics is the debate over the definitions of life, death, body and human. It has been argued that organ donation is an act of causing self harm. The use of cloning to come up with organs with a genotype identical to the recipient is another controversial topic.

Xenotransplantation which is the transfer of animal organs into human bodies has also created a stir. Though this has resulted in increased supply of organs it has also received a lot of criticism. Certain animal rights groups have opposed the sacrifice of animals for organ donation. Campaigns have been launched to ban this new field of transplantation.

Religious Issues

Different religious groups have different viewpoints regarding organ donation. The Hindu religion does not prohibit people from donating organs. The advocates of the Hindu religion state that it is an individual choice. Buddhists share the same view point.

The Catholics consider it as an act of love and charity. It is morally and ethically acceptable as per them. The Christian Church, Islam, United Methodists and Judaism encourage organ donation. However, Gypsies tend to oppose it as they believe in afterlife. The Shintos are also against it as they believe that injuring a dead body is a heinous crime.

Apart from this, the political system of a country also impacts organ donation. The organ donation rate can increase if the government extends proper support. There needs to be a strong political will to ensure rise in the transplant rate. Specialized training, care, facilities and adequate funding must be provided to ensure a rise.

The demand for organs has always been way higher than their supply due to the various issues discussed above. There is a need to focus on these issues and work upon them in order to raise the number of organ donors.

Essay on Organ Donation FAQs

How do you write an organ donation essay.

To write an organ donation essay, start with an introduction explaining its importance, discuss benefits, address common concerns, and conclude with a call to action for readers to consider becoming donors.

What is a short note on organ donation?

Organ donation involves willingly giving one's organs after death to save lives. It's a selfless act that can bring hope and health to those in need.

How important is organ donation?

Organ donation is crucial as it saves lives by providing organs to individuals suffering from organ failure, offering them a chance for a healthier and longer life.

What is the aim of organ donation?

The aim of organ donation is to provide organs and tissues from willing donors to those in need, improving the quality of life and increasing survival rates for recipients.

What are the 4 types of organ donation?

The four types of organ donation include deceased donation (after death), living donation (from a living person), paired exchange (swapping organs between two donor-recipient pairs), and directed donation (to a specific person).

What is the concept of organ donation?

Organ donation is the voluntary act of giving one's organs or tissues to save or enhance the lives of others, often occurring after death or, in some cases, while the donor is still alive.

Which organ Cannot be donated?

The brain cannot be donated for transplantation. While other organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs can be donated, the brain's complex functions make it ineligible for donation.

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Organ Donation Essay

Organ donation is a noble act of transplanting healthy organs from a donor to a patient receiver. Human body organs and tissues that function properly are collected and transplanted into patients’ bodies to save their lives. In most cases, organ donations are performed after the donor’s death. But some organs can be donated even when the donors are alive. Kids learning activities like organ donation essays will help them attain more scientific knowledge and better their academic performances.

Superheroes are not born; they are made by society. By participating in activities like organ donations, people can save lives and turn themselves into real superheroes. The following short essay in English on the necessity of performing organ donation in society will help kids improve their basic knowledge about the human body. BYJU’S importance of organ donation essay for kids will also help develop social consciousness and humanity in their minds.

organ donation essay

Table of Contents

What is organ donation, necessity of organ donation in the society.

Organ donation can be defined as the process of transplanting an organ or tissue from one person to another person through surgical methods. The recipient performs the transplantation because of organ failure or damage caused by disease or injury. Organ donation marks the advancement of science in the medical sector.

People of all ages can perform organ donation. Organ donations are completely voluntary actions, and people cannot be compelled to engage in these activities. Illiteracy, lack of proper guidance, lack of awareness, the fright of surgery, etc., are some of the major reasons that stop a person from engaging in such charity practices. People hesitate to donate organs because of their misunderstandings related to organ donation procedures. Myths and misconceptions about organ donation have to be cleared from people’s minds. Teachers can direct their students to visit online resources like BYJU’S essay on health education to learn more about human health.

The kidney, eyes, liver, heart, skin tissues, small intestines, and lungs are some of the organs that people commonly donate. Participation in organ donation is a great form of charity and social service. It marks the contribution of individuals after death. We all should pledge to donate our organs to save lives and promote the importance of organ donation by participating in various campaigns.

World Organ Donation Day is observed annually on August 13. It is celebrated by people worldwide to raise awareness about the necessity of organ donation in society. The World Health Organisation and other health organisations conduct live classes on health-related topics to educate people. Essay writing activities on topics like the necessity of organ donation in society and organ donation essay are excellent tools for teaching the little ones about the process and importance of organ donations. For more essays, worksheets and stories , visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is organ donation.

Organ donation is the practice of surgically transplanting an organ or tissue from one person to another person.

When is World Organ Donation Day?

August 13 is observed as World Organ Donation Day.

What do children learn from BYJU’S organ donation essay?

BYJU’S organ donation essay provides an opportunity for kids to attain knowledge of the human organ system. Practising essay writing activities will help them perform well in their academics and score good marks.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Medical Practice & Treatment — Organ Donation

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Essay Examples on Organ Donation

Brief description of organ donation.

Organ donation is the selfless act of giving one's organs or tissues to help save the lives of others. It plays a crucial role in addressing the shortage of organs for transplantation and has the potential to improve and even save the lives of those in need.

Importance of Writing Essays on This Topic

Essays on organ donation are significant as they provide a platform for individuals to explore the ethical, medical, and societal implications of organ donation. They also encourage critical thinking and awareness of this life-saving practice.

Tips on Choosing a Good Topic

  • Consider the ethical implications of organ donation
  • Explore the impact of cultural and religious beliefs on organ donation
  • Examine the role of public policy in promoting organ donation

Essay Topics

  • The ethical considerations of organ donation
  • Cultural and religious perspectives on organ donation
  • The impact of organ donation on recipient and donor families
  • Public policy and organ donation incentives
  • The role of social media in promoting organ donation awareness
  • Organ donation and the medical community
  • Organ trafficking and illegal organ donation
  • The future of organ donation and transplantation
  • Organ donation and the concept of altruism
  • The psychological impact of waiting for an organ transplant
  • Organ donation and the concept of brain death
  • Organ donation and age restrictions
  • The economics of organ donation and transplantation
  • Organ donation and the role of family consent
  • Reflective essay on personal experiences with organ donation
  • Argumentative essay on the need for a change in organ donation policies
  • Compare and contrast the organ donation system in different countries
  • The impact of organ donation on diverse communities
  • The role of education in promoting organ donation awareness
  • The importance of organ donation for pediatric patients

Concluding Thought

Exploring the topic of organ donation through essays can lead to a deeper understanding of the ethical, medical, and societal issues surrounding this life-saving practice. Engaging in critical dialogue and exploration of organ donation can contribute to greater awareness and potential solutions for addressing the shortage of organs for transplantation.

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  • Speech on Organ Donation

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Introduction

Organ donation is a legal process through which the healthy organs and the tissues of one person are transplanted to another person. The person who donates his or her organs is known as a donor and the person who receives the organs is known as the organ receiver. Organ donation takes place by the consent of the donor when he or she was alive or by the consent of the family members of the donors. Organ donation is a noble act that can save millions of lives and sadly many people don't know the impact it has on other people’s lives. Even after death, a donor could bring joy to the life of the receiver. 

Here we have provided a long and short speech on organ donation and along with that we have also given 10 line pointers about the organ donation speech.

Long Speech on Organ Donation

Good morning to everyone present here. Today I have been given the opportunity to give a speech on organ donation. I will try my best to make sure that everybody understands the importance of organ donation and how it could save millions of lives. 

Organ donation is a process by which a person allows his or her organ to be removed and transplanted to another person in a legal manner either with the permission of the donor while he or she is alive or by the consent of close family members. So why is organ donation so important? and why is it talked about so much?. 

Organ donation is a social act and it’s considered to be an honor. Organ donation can happen from a brain-dead owner or a living donor. A few of the common transplants include kidneys, liver, intestines, heart, bone marrow, and lungs. It is not required that the donor should be dead to donate an organ. In a few cases, the organs and the tissues can be donated by the living donors such as a part of the liver if the blood group of the donor and the recipient match. Similarly, part of the lungs, pancreas, and intestines can also be donated. 

In India, we follow an opt-in system of organ donation. You may be thinking, what is an opt-in system?. In an opt-in system, the person who is on the death bed is presumed to have given consent to be a donor before his or her death unless they had made a specific request not to donate the organs. Organ donation in India is controlled by the Human Organ Act 1994. The legal forms for the people who are willing to donate their organs are given by India’s Ministry of health and family Welfare Government website. 

Every year around 6 lakh people die in India due to the shortage or the unavailability of organs. The organ donation rate in a western country is as high as 36 million in the United States as in India it is 0.3 million which is very low. When it comes to Mumbai, it has the best organ donation rates in the country with almost 48 donations happening in the year 2019 and almost 51 donations happening in the year 2020.

Organ donation is a helpful act by the donor that can help in saving a life of a person and also could help in improving the quality of life for many individuals. Imagine if eye transplantation is done via opt-in organ donation, it could help a blind person to view this beautiful world again. The organs donated to hospitals could be used for scientific research and experiments. The donor organs are also used by medical students to learn about the anatomy of the human body. Thousands of patients wait for organ transplants as many have different organ failures such as a liver, kidney , and even heart and during those harsh times, an organ donor after his or her sad demise could become a ray of hope for the patients. 

Many people believe that a brain-dead person cannot donate any organs, that is not. By brain death, one means permanent loss of brain and brain stem functions. The only activity the body can carry after the brain death is the beating of the heart, not even breathing. As long as the heart is beating the organ transplantation procedure could be carried out. Organ donation is a systematic and legal process and is governed by the government both at the national and the state level. National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) is a national-level organization set up under the government of India that foresees all the organ donation procedures all over the country. A nonprofit organization by the name of Zonal Transplant Coordination Centre (ZTCC) which is set up in Mumbai is working every day to promote organ donation. A brain-dead person can save up to seven lives. Lives that have been suffering for many years due to organ failures. There are many inspirational stories of people who donated their organs when they were near the death door. I request every one of you to read those stories and make a note of how donating organs after death can save the lives of people who are in need. 

To conclude this speech I want to say that death is inevitable and no one has escaped it.The greatest rulers who have lived before us have seen death and a newborn child who hasn’t experienced life has also witnessed death due to some circumstances. Organ donation is a noble act, a deed that could be done to save the lives of people even after the donor is dead. On this day, let us come forward and fulfill one more duty of ours as true Indian Citizens by pledging our organs which can save many lives after we leave this planet. The first step of willingness to donate an organ is to have a donor card. A donor card is an expression of a person’s willingness to be a donor. It is also important to make everyone aware of the importance of organ donation so please spread the word and help in saving lives. Thank you. 

Short Organ Donation Speech

Good morning to everyone present here. Today I have been given an opportunity to give a small speech on organ donation. I hope that this speech will help everyone to spread the word about the importance of organ donation and how it can save lives. 

Organ donation is a process by which a person allows his or her organ to be removed legally depending on his or her will or the consent of his family members to save the life of a person who is in need of that particular organ. 

Every year around 5 lakh people die due to organ failures in India. This could be due to accidents or the failure of specific organs. Organ transplantation can help in saving the life of people who have been fighting to survive. Organ transplantation is one of the greatest achievements that modern science has been able to accomplish. Many lives could be saved and significant deaths could be avoided if organ donation is done at the right time. 

Organ donation is a social act and it can be done by a living donor or a person who is brain dead. A few of the common organ transplantations include the Liver, intestines, kidneys, heart, and bone marrow. Organs are mostly donated after the death of the owner, however, many people are unaware of the noble act.

To conclude this speech I want to say that death is a mystery concept which many people don't understand. Death cannot be avoided and no one can run away from death. Organ donation is a noble act that could give a ray of hope to another person’s life who is suffering through many years because of the failure of a particular organ or organ. Be part of this noble act and have a donor card that shows the willingness of a person to donate an organ after his or her death. I wish you to live a happy life full of joy. A life in which you get a chance to impact many lives and when death knocks on your door I wish you are content with your life but also will make an impact through organ donation you give a chance for another person to live a happy life on this planet. Thank you for listening to everyone. 

10 Lines About the Speech on Organ Donation

Organ donation is a legal transfer of healthy organs from the donor to the receiver.it is considered to be a good deed as a person is saving the life of another. 

A person donating the organs is known as a donor and by the consent of the donor or family members, the process of organ donation takes place. 

The donation of organs can happen before the death of the person or after the death of the person.

In India, we follow an opt-in system for organ donation. In the opt-in system of organ donation, the donor has given his consent for organ donation before his death. 

Various organ transplantation takes place such as kidneys, lungs, liver, and bone marrow.

The transplantation of the kidney is the most common organ transplantation which occurs throughout the world.

Every year almost 5 lakh people die in India due to organ failure. Organ donation can help in saving the life of such people. 

Organ donation requires detailed testing of the donor’s body. The blood group and the compatibility of the donor and the receiver are also matched before the organ is transplanted. 

Organ donation provides a second chance to people who have suffered for years because of the failure of organs such as kidneys etc. 

Some people also donate their entire bodies for research and medical science. 

Different Types of Organ Donation: 

Autograft : Autograft is the process of transplanting a person's tissues from one part of his body to another part of his body. For example, skin from the legs might be removed and used to repair damaged skin on the face or other exposed areas.

Allograft : Allograft refers to the transplantation of an organ between two genetically dissimilar persons. Because of the genetic difference, the receiver will regard the donor's organ as alien and attempt to kill it. This is referred to as s rejection.

Isograft : Isograft refers to the transplantation of an organ or tissue from a donor to a genetically identical recipient. There will be no immunological reaction, which means there will be no transplant rejection.

Xenograft : Xenograft refers to the transplantation of organs or tissues from one species to another. The heart valve of a pig, for example, has been successfully transplanted into a person.

Split Transplant : A deceased donor's organ, such as the liver, can be split between two recipients, generally an adult and a youngster.

Domino Transplant : When the lungs are to be transplanted, it is easier to replace them together with the heart surgically. If the original heart of the recipient is in good condition, it can be transplanted into another person who needs one.

ABO-incompatible transplantation : The immune systems of infants and toddlers under the age of 12 months may not have fully formed. They are able to get organs from donors who are incompatible with them.

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FAQs on Speech on Organ Donation

1. What is organ donation?

Giving an organ or a portion of an organ to be transplanted into another person is known as organ donation. Organ transplantation is the only way to preserve patients' lives and enhance their quality of life who are suffering from terminal organ failure. However, there is a mismatch between supply and demand for donated organs, resulting in the death of many people. Organ transplantation has steadily expanded during the last two decades, with great success in adolescents and young adults. However, the rising proportion of older transplant patients with associated morbidity poses a challenge. As a result of innovations and advancements in perioperative treatment, the outcomes of organ transplantation continue to improve.

2. Who can be an organ donor?

Anyone, regardless of age, race, or medical history, can be a potential donor. Medical specialists examine your medical history to see whether you are eligible to donate. More people can donate now than ever before thanks to recent advancements in transplantation.

Adults can also make living donations, which means they can choose to donate an organ, such as a kidney, or a portion of an organ, such as a liver, to someone who is in need.

3. Why is there a need for organ donation?

Organ donation is required since only 3000 individuals out of 1.5 lakh people in India who require a kidney obtain one, just 1 out of every 30 people receives a kidney, and 90% of those on the waiting list die without receiving a donor. Around 70% of liver transplants require a living donor, with the remaining 30% relying on cadaver (dead) donors. As a result, there is a pressing need to raise organ donation rates and provide people a second shot at life.

4. What is the situation of organ donation in India?

Organ transplantation is in high demand all across the world. India is likewise experiencing a severe organ scarcity, with little hope of finding a solution. Every year, it is estimated that 1.5 lakh people suffer from renal failure, with just 3000 receiving a transplant. Similarly, over 2 lakh individuals die each year from liver failure or cancer, and organ donors are rarely available to save them. It is the same with heart patients: there are only 15 hearts available for transplant for every 50,000 heart attack sufferers. As a result, massive programs to raise awareness about organ donation and close the gap between supply and demand are urgently needed in India. 

5. Where can I get an essay on organ donation?

Vedantu provides an essay on organ donation.  It goes through the importance of organ donation, different types of organ donation, the current situation of organ donation in India, and more. Professional educators create content that is easy for students to learn and remember. Vedantu also offers study materials and a variety of competitive exams to students in grades 1 through 12. The contents contain notes, important topics and questions, revision notes, and other things. On Vedantu, you may access all of these resources for free. To access any of these resources, students must first register on the Vedantu website. You may also sign up using the Vedantu smartphone app.

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Essay on Organ Donation for Students and Children | PDF Download

Essay on Organ Donation for Students and Children | PDF Download

Organ Donation is one of the Nobel’s help which profits the other needed people even after the death of the donor. This Donation includes removing tissues and many other useful organs from the dead body. These organs which are removed will help the person who requires the transplantation due to improper working of their present organs . Many people around the world need organs for their transplantation process . Similarly, the below essay on Organ Donation will provide information about the donation and benefits of donation and much more information. An essay  on the importance of Organ Donation will explain the benefits and how it is useful for the other and why people are not aware of organ donation and much other unique information. In the further below of the article Quotes on Organ Donation are listed.

Short Essay on Organ Donation

Organ Donation is one of the humble help for people who require organs. Usually, organ donation was done with the people who are dead. The parts are taken from the donators and transplanted into the body of the recipients. Donating Organs can be done by families after their person’s death and the other way is to sign on paper as they are agreeing to donate organs after their death. These are the ways to donate organs , however, as soon as they donating the organs are not used. There are many needs to transplant the organs for the needed one. It takes a long time to reach the organ for the needed person. There are many requirements needed to approve by doctors to transplant the organs of the body. The recipient’s and donator’s blood group should be the same and tissues should be matched and many more should be similar while transplanting.

In the present day, Organ donation has a huge response due to the success rate of transplantations . As even it is a risky process of transplanting the organisms but it was getting successful with technology and huge donations. Organ Donation should be done as a responsibility, every organ will help in any way for the people in need around the world.

Long Essay on Donating Organs

Organ Donation is one of the processes to help people who require organs around the world. Organ donation is nothing but donating organs after our death . This can be done by family members or the donator should sign with the hospital or any NGO’s when they are alive. Organ Donation involves donating kidneys , liver, eye , heart , tissues , and many other useful organisms which can transplant. There is a huge requirement for organs around the world and majorly with countries with high diseases. The need for Organs will arise with a person who loses organs with any accident or failure of organs at a young age.

Countries like India have a high need for organs as the people have the failure of organs due to many diseases. Some organs of the body can be stored and used for people’s needs after some days. These type of organs has to collect in large number so that they can be used at the needed time. On the other side, the organs like the retina, kidneys, hearts, and some others need to transplant to the recipient’s body within a few hours. These type of organs has a huge demand in society as these organs will stop functioning after the removal.

Donating or collecting the organs is an easy process but on the other hand, there are many issues to finding the matched organs of the needed person. There are various risk involved in the transplantation of organs in this immune response is one of the dangerous issues . If the organ is to be transplanted  for the recipient , there are some reasons like blood, tissues, organ type or growth, and some others to match with the donor and recipients. However after the successful transplantation also there is a rise in immunity disorder in the recipient’s body and some even cause death with the complete failure of the body.

In the present day, there is a small hike in organ donations by the people. The main cause is the increase in the success rate of transplantation of organs . As technology is increased in the medical sector the rate of transplantation is also increasing. By this, there is a demand for organs in the people. As the demand for organs and donation of organs are imbalanced there is the rise of the black market for organs . The market for organs is called Organ trafficking or Red Trafficking . Organ trafficking is an illegal activity where people sell their organs in need of money. There are many mediators like doctors and medical assistants who gain huge profits by selling the organs for the needed people at high rates.

The conclusion of the Essay on Organ Donation is everyone has to donate organs as this donation doesn’t need effort during alive. The government of the countries should bring up the awareness of Organ donation as similar to Blood donation . All the blood clubs and societies should include organ donation and enlighten the people to participate in the donation. Organ Donation should be done to help poor people who require organs. Every year 27th November will be organized as National Organ Donation Day in India by the government to bring up awareness in the people. Many Organ Donation camps and campaigns , Organ Donation Advertisements , posters need to bring awareness to all category people in the country. In the olden days, people have to say donate something it will return to you at needs.

Quotes on Organ Donation

  • Organ Donation is not a tragedy by it can be a beautiful light in the midst of one.
  • Don’t think of organ donations as giving up part of yourself to keep a total stranger alive. It’s a total stranger giving up almost all of themselves to keep part of you alive.
  • Destiny of Life….. The body is for Donation… The soul is for Definition…
  • Your organ could be someone’s missing piece
  • Be An Organ Donar, All it Costs is a little Love.
  • Don’t Take Your Organs To Heaven. Heaven Knows We Need Them Here.
  • I think you should automatically donate your organs because that would turn the balance of organ donation hugely. I would donate whatever anybody would take and I’d probably do the cremation bit.
  • Be a symbol of hope for those who are waiting.
  • The measure of a Life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.
  • Be a Hero, Be an Organ Donor, Life is a gift, Pass it on.

We believe that the above essays on Organ donation will inspire you and provide the information and need for organs for the people. The above essay on the importance of Organ Donation will be helpful for students at exams & competitions, Aspirants like UPSC & SSC.

Dear Students and Children, you can download the Organ Donation Essay in the Hand Written Format by Clicking the Below Click Here Link.

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The Power of Organ Donation to Save Lives Through Transplantation

Organ and tissue donation is more important than many of us realize—for society and for the individuals it directly affects. Today, there are nearly 118,000 individuals waiting for an organ transplant to live healthier, more productive lives (Unpublished data, Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network [OPTN], April 2013). For some people with end-stage organ failure, it is truly a matter of life and death. Add to these the thousands more whose lives will be improved through tissue and cornea donation and transplants that can help them move better, see better, and live better.

Donation affects more than the donors and recipients. It also affects the families, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who love and support those in need of transplantation, and who benefit from their renewed life and improved health after transplant. For my part, I have experienced not once, but twice how donation and transplantation affects individuals.

Twenty years ago, my wife, Donna Lee Jones, died in a severe automobile accident. Her death was a shock, and my family did not know what to make of our tragedy. Then we were offered the opportunity to donate her organs and tissues for transplantation. While it did not lessen the pain of her loss, it brought comfort to us knowing that out of our tragedy, some good would come, and others could receive the gift of life. Because of her donation, several people received a new lease on life: a man in Tampa, Florida, received her heart; a teenage boy in Washington, D.C., received a kidney and pancreas; a hospital custodian received her other kidney; a woman in Pennsylvania received her liver; and her corneas went to a young woman in Baltimore, Maryland, and a government worker.

Four years later, my 20-year-old daughter, Vikki Lianne, was struck by a car and died. Losing a spouse was tragic enough, but the pain of losing a child cannot be expressed. Falling back on our previous experience, we decided to donate Vikki's organs and tissues for transplantation. Again, several individuals benefited from her gift: a mother of five children from Upstate New York received her heart; a widow with four children received her lung; a 59-year-old man from Washington, D.C., who was active with a local charity, received her liver; a widower with one daughter received her kidney; a working father received the other kidney; and her corneas went to a 26-year-old man in Florida and a 60-year-old woman in Pennsylvania. And we, her family, took comfort in the idea that Vikki's legacy was one of life and giving.

Organ donation provides a life-giving, life-enhancing opportunity to those who are at the end of the line for hope. And the need for organ donors is growing. When Donna Lee died in 1992, there were 27,000 people on the transplant wait list. When Vikki died just four years later, that number had grown to 47,000 (Unpublished data, OPTN, January 2010). As of April 5, 2013, there were 117,812 people waiting, with hope, for an organ to become available (Unpublished data, OPTN, April 2013).

One way to expand the number of organs available for transplantation is to expand the number of donors, through carefully and safely considering individuals who in the past were not included. The guideline in this special issue of Public Health Reports provides a scientific, evidence-based process to assure a balance between organ safety and availability for each individual on the transplant wait list. As our knowledge and scientific capabilities regarding safety and availability grow and evolve, donors who in the past would not have been considered as donors are now able to provide the gift of life to others.

This guideline will help improve organ transplant outcomes, leading to more individuals being able to live healthier and longer lives. The science and evidence are clear and will improve the safety of organs, balanced with a clear and conscious regard for donors and recipients. It is the human aspect of donation and transplantation—helping people. It is the right thing to do.

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Kenneth Moritsugu is a former Acting Surgeon General of the United States.

This article was supported in part by Health Resources and Services Administration contract #234-2005-370011C. The content of this article is the responsibility of the author alone and does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Home > Books > Organ Donation and Transplantation - Current Status and Future Challenges

Organ Donation and Transplantation: “Life after Death”

Submitted: 13 November 2017 Reviewed: 03 April 2018 Published: 25 July 2018

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.76962

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Organ Donation and Transplantation - Current Status and Future Challenges

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Organ donation is defined as giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person. Organ transplantation is the only option to save lives in patients affected by terminal organ failures and improve their quality of life. However, there is a disparity exists between the supply and demand of donated organs, leads to a loss of many lives. The number of organ transplantation have gradually increased in the last two decades and provide excellent results in children and young adults, and are challenging by the growing proportion of elderly transplant patients with co morbidity. The results of organ transplantation continue to improve, as a consequence of the innovations and the improvements in peri-operative management. This chapter describes organ donation and transplantation and its trends and challenges.

  • organ donation
  • psychosocial

Author Information

Kanmani job *.

  • Amrita College of Nursing, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India

Anooja Antony

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

Organ donation is defined as giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person. Organ transplantation is the only option to save lives in patients affected by terminal organ failures and improve their quality of life. However, there is a disparity exists between the supply and demand of donated organs, leads to a loss of many lives. The number of organ transplantation have gradually increased in the last two decades and provide excellent results in children and young adults, and are challenging by the growing proportion of elderly transplant patients with co morbidity. The results of organ transplantation continue to improve, as a consequence of the innovations and the improvements in peri-operative management.

Organ transplantation currently depends on the availability of human organs. Their scarcity means that there is a waiting list of almost 63,000 in the European Union, and over 100,000 people in the United States according to the recent survey. The process of obtaining organs for donation and transplantation purely depends on the resources of health services and by health professionals’ performance in potential donor identification and management tasks. However, in accordance with the current legislation it is mainly subjected to a personal or family decision, strongly mediated by psychosocial processes. Therefore, the need to analyze and intervene both in the practices of the professionals involved in the process of organ generation and in the attitudes of the general population need to stressed and addressed [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ].

2. Organ transplantation and organ donation: an overview

Organ transplantation involves the surgical implantation of an organ or section of an organ into a person whose own organ is failing. The donor organ may come from both deceased individual as well as from a living donor. The patients psychological and behavior aspect as well their emotional response and mental health and adherence to medical regimen should be assessed before and after organ transplantation. The living donor’s psychological response towards organ donation (most commonly for kidney and liver segment transplantation) is an important aspect to consider in the transplantation process.

Organ donation is defined as “giving an organ or part of an organ to be transplanted into another person” (Organ procurement of Transplant Network (OPTN), 2015), organ donation has the potential to save lives. The organs donated from one single donor can save up to eight lives. Organ transplantation may be one of the options left to sustain someone’s life. However, the disparity that exists between the supply and demand of donated organs, leads to a loss of many lives. Based on recent OPTN data, approximately 21 people will die each day while waiting for a transplant in the United States (US). Currently, 123, 358 people are awaiting organs and on the transplant list in the US with this number growing and the number of donated organs declining.

Asian Indians are more likely to have higher rates of having obesity and diabetes when compared with other Asian subgroups which make them at an increased risk of needing a donated organ [ 35 ]. These conditions can lead one to develop coronary artery disease and hypertension which then can lead to chronic kidney disease and other chronic illnesses. Patients who suffer from chronic kidney disease need regular dialysis which can ultimately lead them to organ transplantation to improve one’s quality of life. Also, conditions such as diabetes and obesity can be detrimental to one’s life and can lead to fatty liver disease which can lead to chronic liver disease requiring liver transplantation if the liver decompensates.

The development of organ transplantation in the second half of the 20th century has been a remarkable achievement. Recently; organ transplantation is one of the most effective options for those with an end-stage organ failure. Its success has been basically dependent on public awareness, support and active participation. Without these factors, the efficiency of organ transplantation and the consequent saving or extension of lives would have undoubtedly suffered adversely.

The number of patients in need of organ transplantation has increased at a rapid pace; in contrast, the number of available organs has increased only slightly. Expanded criteria for donor selection, such as older age, have resulted in more people who meet the criteria for brain death becoming organ donors although fewer organs are transplanted from each donor. Improvements in automobile and highway safety, as well as increased enforcement of gun control laws, have also contributed to a plateau in the number of young, healthy donors. Public education efforts that encourage organ donation may be effective in getting more people to sign organ donor cards, but most individuals who do so will never be in a position to become organ donors.

Faced with increasing numbers of patients who need transplantation, deaths on the waiting list, and a fixed number of available organs, some transplant programs are working to increase the number of transplants from living donors. Although living donation has always been an option for some types of transplants, many programs have been reluctant to promote it, as living donation requires invasive surgery on a healthy person with associated risks of morbidity and mortality. For example, since dialysis is an option for patients with end-stage renal disease, surgery on a healthy donor may be difficult to justify, despite the dialysis patient’s diminished quality of life.

The most important in organ donation is to maximize the psychological status and well-being of the donors before and after transplantation has become the foremost goal of all transplantation centres. The psychological issues that mainly concern with the living organ donation includes prevention of psychological harm, ensuring the donors are fully informed and decide to donate without coercion, monitoring donor psychosocial outcomes are intimately linked to the factors that historically served as barriers to use of organs from living donors. These barriers can be overcome by the motivating of the public and creating awareness and responsibility among oneself.

Organs that can be transplanted from the living donor includes one kidney, part of intestine, pancreas, islets of Langerhans, bone, part of liver, one testis, bone marrow and blood. The organ that can be transplanted from the deceased donor are heart, kidney, pancreas, stomach, hand, skin, blood vessels, lungs, liver, intestine, testis, cornea and heart valve.

Autograft: Transplanting a person’s tissues from one site and use it in another site of his body and is called autograft. For example, removal of skin from the legs and using it for damaged skin face or other exposed part.

Allograft: Transplant of an organ between two genetically non identical individuals, it is called allograft. Due to the genetic difference, the donor’s organ will be treated as foreign by the recipient and will try to destroy it. This is called s rejection.

Isograft: Transplant of organ/tissue from a donor to genetically identical recipient is called isograft. There will not be any immune response hence no transplant rejection.

Xenograft: Transplantation of organ/tissues forms one species to another species. For example, the heart valve of pig is transplanted successfully to human.

Split transplant: An organ like liver retrieved from the deceased donor can be divided between two recipients, usually an adult and a child.

Domino transplant: When the lungs are to be transplanted, surgically it is easier to replace them along with the heart. If the recipient’s original heart is healthy, it can be transplanted into another recipient in the need of one.

ABO incompatible transplantation: The immune system of young children aged below 12 months might have developed fully. They can receive organs from incompatible donors.

Live donors: A living person, mentally and physically healthy can donate one of a paired organ, part of an organ or a tissue. The organs donated are kidneys, part of live, one of the lung, part of small intestine, skin, bone marrow, one of the testis and one of the ovaries. Live donor can either be related or unrelated.

Unrelated donors: For altruistic reasons, a person can donate one of his organs to an unrelated donor. According to TOHO act, the unrelated donor should be known to the recipient and have some obligation to him. It has to be established that there is no monetary transaction between them. But in many other countries, even a stranger can donate one of his organs to a needy person on altruistic grounds.

Deceased donors: Organs are harvested from brain dead person whose respiration and circulation are maintained artificially. Brain dead has to be certified by a team of doctors nominated by Government I every organ retrieval centers.

Paired exchange: When a living donor is not compatible with the related recipient, but may be compatible for another recipient. That second recipient related donor is compatible to the first recipient, then permission can be granted for transplantation. The surgery for all four donors and recipient are conducted simultaneously and anonymity is kept until after the transplant.

Spousal donation: A spouse can donate an organ to the partner. It has to be recorded that the couple is legally married.

3. Current scenario: trends

short essay on organ donation

Despite advances in medicine and technology, and increased awareness of organ donation and transplantation, the gap between supply and demand continues to widen. Each year, the number of people in the waiting list is increasing in both donor and transplant. The donation statistics according to OPTN Annual report shows that in 2016, total of 41,335 organs were donated. It can be either deceased or living and four out of five donations came from deceased donors and four out of ten from living donors. According to the report by OTPN 2018, 115,033 people need life-saving organ transplant, of those 74,926 people are the active waiting list candidates.

The real reason behind a living person’s interest in donating one’s organ is important to determine but it is often difficult. Now days, money has become the motivation for donation. The relationships also have played a great role in increasing donation rates. The shortage of available organs can be reduced if; people choose to donate their organs after they die. If more people did that the issue regarding organ shortage can be minimized.

The trend is expected to accelerate each year. Many organ procurement and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations actively participate to increase the donation rates. The organizations take various to steps against traditional social taboos.

The approach, known as “donation after cardiac death” (DCD), usually involves patients who have suffered brain damage, such as from a car accident or a stroke. After family members have made the difficult decision to discontinue a ventilator or other life-sustaining treatment, organ-bank representatives talk to them about donation. Sometimes, the donor is suffering from an incurable disease also end up with the decision of organ donation.

According to U.S Department of Health and Human Services, more than 1,23,000 men, women and children currently needed life-saving organ transplants every 10 minutes and another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. In 2014, more than 8500 deceased donors made possible approximately 24,000 organ transplants. In addition, there were nearly 6000 transplants from living donors. In India, nationally with a population of 1.2 billion people, the statistics stands 0.08 persons as organ donor populations. Mrithasanjeevani, Kerala network of organ sharing which began in 2012, also states that the need for organ transplantation is high as the patients in waiting list is increasing day by day who requires organ transplantation.

The need for organ has gone up substantially all over the world. India also suffers from acute organ shortage with little to no solution for this issue. It is estimated that every year 1.5 lakh people suffer from renal failure out of which only 3000 people get donors. Similarly, every year around 2 lakh people die of liver failure or cancer and rarely get any help in the form of organ donors. It is the same for heart patients, for every 50,000 heart attack patients there are only 15 hearts available for transplant. Therefore, there is an urgent need for widespread campaigns to spread awareness about organ donation in India and to bridge the gap between supply and demand. The numbers that are mentioned here are estimates and real numbers could be far more than this, it is scary because this means very few people get relief and get a second chance in life.

The main reasons for organ shortage in India are mainly ignorance and lack of knowledge. People are not well informed enough about the benefits of organ donation. Today social media and so many other forums can promote the positives of organ donation and how it will save so many lives if more people register themselves for organ donation. The reason for organ shortage is myth and superstition. Many people do not want to donate their organs even after death because of so many myths and superstition they are instilled with. People with existing medical condition or old people, who wish to donate, do not donate thinking they are not fit or eligible. Almost everyone can donate some part or the other unless you have any extreme medical condition.

The need for organ donation is necessary because out of the 1.5 lakh people who need kidney in India only 3000 people receive them, only 1 out of 30 people receive kidney and 90% of people in the waiting list die without getting any donor. Around 70% liver transplants are dependent on a live donor but 30% dependent on cadaver (corpse) donations. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase the organ donation rates and give a person a second chance in their life.

4. Challenges in organ donation

As far as the challenges concerned it includes mainly donor’s motives for donation, the predominant ways in which donors arrive at the decision to donate, and the donors’ psychological status and its relationship to their fitness as donors.

4.1. Pre-donation challenges

4.1.1. donor’s motives.

Most donors are likely to be motivated by multiple factors. These factors include intrinsic factors (e.g., desires to relieve the suffering of another or to act in according to the religious convictions) and extrinsic factors (e.g., the social pressures or perceived norms) that may operate simultaneously. The particular combination of motivational forces will also differ depending on whether and how the donor is related to the recipient.

Among living related donors, it has long been assumed that family members or emotional partners are motivated primarily for saving the lives of their loved ones. Such motives are indeed the most commonly expressed feelings, as noted in a variety of studies over the past 30 years. Among nondirected living donors (individuals donating to unrelated patients whom the donors did not select)(NDLDs), it was identified as the altruistic/humanitarian motives, along with beliefs that the donor’s self-worth would be improved, and feelings of moral and religious obligation or self- identity.

4.1.2. Donor’s decision-making

The motivation for the organ donation is purely on the donor’s decision of organ donation and it may be influenced by many factors including the relationship to the recipients. Decision-making swiftness may indicate the type of decision being made. There appear to be two decision-making approaches that include the moral decision making and the rational decision making. “Moral decision-making” involves awareness that one’s actions can affect another; ascription of responsibility to oneself; acceptance of the social/moral norm governing the behavior; and taking action consistent with that norm. Because moral decision-making does not involve the costs and benefits of a given behavior but, instead, is based on perceived norms governing that behavior, it is likely to lead to non- deliberative, instantaneous decisions. In contrast, “rational” decision-making includes various steps that focus on gathering relevant information, evaluating alternatives, selecting an alternative, and implementing the decision.

4.1.3. Support

It includes mainly the assessment of the donor’s available physical, financial and emotional support. It is necessary to identify whether the donor have someone to provide care in the recovery period, have sufficient financial support and so on. This important to avoid distress if the donor develops any complications. Finally, does the donor have the support of significant others for being a donor, or is he or she choosing to donate over the objections of persons who have a legitimate interest in the outcome of an autonomous decision.

4.1.4. Family attitudes toward donation

Spouse and family attitudes about donation should also be explored. Collateral interviews with significant others is necessary, especially those who will be providing tangible support to the donor during the recovery period, should be conducted whenever possible. Conflicts between potential donors and significant others should be addressed and, ideally, resolved prior to surgery itself in order to avoid conflicts later. Family members should provide a good understanding of the donor’s wishes and motives, even if they agree to disagree to the donor’s decision.

4.1.5. Behavioral and psychological health

The behavioral and psychological health of the donor should also be considered before donation. It is important to identify donor’s lifestyle is sufficiently healthy to reduce unnecessary risk for both donor and recipient. Many potential donors may have some unhealthy behaviors, such as moderate obesity or smoking. It is necessary to identify that there is sufficient time for the donor to reduce risks (e.g., lose weight, stop smoking). Moreover, it needs to be taken care of that the donor is emotionally stable to cope with stresses which may come up before, during, and after the donation. Hence it is important to identify psychological and behavioral status of the donor or else it may affect the quality of life.

4.1.6. Donor-recipient relationship

The relationship between the donor and recipient is a complex matter. Even when both parties are agree for donation and transplant, family dynamics may be complicated, and other family members may assertively involve themselves in the decision-making process. The donor may have unrealizable expectations that transplant will alter his or her relationship with the recipient. The health care team should not expect an ideal relationship in which all interactions between donor and recipient are harmonious. However, obvious tensions and overt psychological issues should be addressed. Joint interviews, involving both donor and recipient, should be avoided early in the evaluation process in order to preserve privacy and give the potential donor the opportunity to express reservations or “opt out” gracefully.

4.1.7. Diversity issues

Non directed donors may have diversity concerns that may affect the organ donation. The potential donors should be assessed for comfort with donation to recipients of different genders, races, religions, sexual orientations, nationalities, ages, underlying diseases, and lifestyles. Donors who express objections, fears, or concerns about who might receive their organ may need to be deferred until they can receive counseling.

4.1.8. Psychological status of potential donors

The potential donor’s psychological status is of greatest concern for donation and transplantation. Concerns have been particularly high in case of unrelated donation (either directed to a specific patient, or NDLD): the willingness or desire to donate to a stranger has been historically viewed with suspicion and as likely to reflect significant psychopathology. There is no doubt that some potential donors will be psychologically poor candidates to serve as donors.

4.1.9. Post-donation challenges

The donors’ perceptions of their physical functional, psychological, and social well-being were found to be either nonsignificantly different from or significantly better than levels reported in the general population. The post challenges mainly includes recipient death or graft loss, donor medical complications, donor history of mood or other psychiatric problems, and poor donor relationships with recipient or family. The other factor is that it may affect the donor’s quality of life if any complication arises.

The post transplantation challenges are many which include minimizing rejection risks, immunosuppression, organ shortage, handling of the stressors of transplantation, psychosocial adaptation and psychological disorders and so on.

4.1.10. Minimizing rejection risks

The twin conditions of antibody sensitization and antibody-mediated rejection remain challenging and frustrating to treat. The recent drugs which are used to desensitize patients or reverse antibody-mediated rejection, especially chronic antibody mediated rejection is totally unsatisfactory. Development of therapies those are more effective and less toxic should be made available. Recent regimens used for antibody desensitization and reversal of antibody-mediated rejection include plasmapheresis, immunoglobulin (IVIG), and rituximab, an anti-chimeric, anti-CD20 antibody. Recently, the proteasome inhibitor Velcade has also been reported to reverse refractory antibody rejection. Eculizumab, a humanized anti-C5 monoclonal antibody appears to protect the renal allograft despite the presence of donor-specific antibodies (DSA). None of these agents have been tested in rigorous studies.

4.1.11. Immunosuppression

This is one of the major challenges after organ transplantation. Many studies have suggested that most of the late graft loss occurs because of immunologic reasons, frequently antibody-mediated. So the approach of minimizing immunosuppression is necessary with the present drugs to reduce toxicities may actually be helpful in the long-term survival of the graft. The toxicities are minimized by allowing more grafts to be rejected by immune mechanisms. Hence, development of effective agents that lack long-term toxicities so that we can maintain optimum immunosuppression over the long-term.

4.1.12. Stressors after transplantation

In the perioperative period, the focus is on the patient’s physical recovery, with possible rejection episodes and other medical complications causing anxiety and emotional strain. Within the first days after transplantation, a postoperative delirium can occur. The patient can present with symptoms of mental confusion, language disturbances, and occasional hallucinations and delusions are often a frightening experience to patients and their families. Acute brain dysfunction can occur in intensive care patients and patients after surgery. The corticosteroids which are administered for immunosuppression cause these problems. Some of the patients experience problems in accepting the new organ from another individual and suffer with feeling of guilt towards the donor which, in turn, can increase psychological stress and nonadherence [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ].

In the long-term postoperative period, medication side effects and associated comorbidities become central stressors impeding patient’s life quality. Most common comorbidities seen are infections, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lipometabolic disorders, adipositas, cardiovascular diseases, oncological diseases, osteoporosis, and chronic kidney failure [ 12 , 13 ]. Furthermore, psychiatric symptoms (e.g., depression, anxiety, agitation, psychosis) and neurological symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, delirium) can occur as neurotoxic side effects in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs.

Faced with the multiple health risks, patients often continue to experience anxiety and worries regarding possible retransplantation, serious comorbidities, and death. Even patients in good physical health are confronted with severe challenges, for example, regaining their previously lost or restricted social roles as family members and partners (including sexual activity) and returning to work or taking up other meaningful activities. Financial constraints and legal disputes with health or pension insurance agencies constitute other possible sources of psychological strain.

5. Psychosocial adaptation and psychological disorders

After the transplantation, the psychosocial burden more severe in preoperative period than postoperative period. Nevertheless, patients themselves have to demonstrate considerable coping skills. In the best case, transplant patients learn to adapt to their new situation, often by reevaluating life goals and by focusing on more positive consequences, for example, personal growth. On the other hand, unsuccessful readjustment can lower the quality of life and psychiatric morbidity. The most common psychological disorders among patients before and after transplantation are affective and anxiety disorders.

The literature review shows that prevalence of depression in 20–25% of cases before and after kidney transplantation. Less information is available concerning patients receiving other organs. Prior to and following lung transplantation, depression seems to be prevalent in approximately 30% of patients. Hence these show that the depression is a major challenge after transplantation. These issues can be reduced by personal and social resources (resilience factors), that is, favorable coping skills, self-efficacy, sense of coherence, optimism, and social support.

6. Factors affecting donor’s motivation

There are many factors affecting donor’s motivation which includes feelings of love and responsibility, spiritual motives, and greater success rate of organ donation.

6.1. Feelings of love and responsibility

Motives for donating organ to their relative patients were that they tended to do something for their loved ones. In fact, they feel responsible for their problems. They do not treat others’ problems with indifference and attempted to do whatever they could for resolving the problems experienced by transplant recipients. It is considered as their own responsibilities to help them to get rid of their problems. The feel like they are the ones who need to support their patients.

6.2. Close and constant companionship

Another factor affecting the participants’ feeling of responsibility for donation to their family members was close and constant companionship with recipients. This close and constant companionship made the participants to clearly understand the recipients’ conditions and hence, it had resulted in their decision on organ donation in order to alleviate recipients’ problems. This close and constant companionship with patients help family members understand patients’ problems well and increase their degree of commitment to do something for patient’s pain and discomfort. They also noted that this had made them experience deeper shared emotions with their patients and hence, required them to feel responsible for minimizing their patient’s problems.

6.3. Inability to tolerate recipient’s discomfort

Another motive for organ donation was one’s difficulty in tolerating recipient’s discomfort. Love for their sick family members had made the participants feel responsible and decide on doing something for solving their patient’s problems. Their patient’s pain, suffering and discomfort cause a great inconvenience and irritation which lead them to the decision of organ donation. They hoped that organ donation alleviate their patient’s problems [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 36 ].

6.4. Spiritual motives for donation

Religious beliefs played a significant role in motivating to organ donation. Some of them believed that donation was a way for expiating their past sins. They referred to faith in God, reliance on Him, and hope for a successful transplant as the important motives for organ donation. Some of them even accused themselves of causing their family members to develop organ failure and believed that donation was a way for alleviating their feelings of guilt. Such a practice was particularly common among the parents of sick children. Some of them considered donation as a God-approved practice, and noted that God has helped them donate their organs. They noted that they donated their organs for gratifying God and believed that he sees it and help them in all bad situations.

6.5. Greater success rate of organ transplantation

The category is the greater success of organ transplantation. In other words, obtaining information and realizing the greater benefits of organ transplantation had motivated the participants to opt for organ donation. Some of them reported that they had never thought about donation until obtaining information from their patient’s physicians. However, after obtaining adequate information, they had made an irreversible decision about organ donation. Accordingly, a major motive for organ donation was the lower likelihood of organ rejection.

7. Measures to overcome challenges for organ donation

The decisions regarding organ donation based on the personal beliefs (religious, cultural, family, social and body integrity) levels of knowledge about organ donation and previous interaction with the health care team. Many maintained positive attitudes to organ donation despite significant reservations about the organ donation process. Resistance to organ donation found to be less in the case of living donation for family.

There are some religious beliefs that can have both positive and negative influences, these often stemmed from uncertainty or misrepresentation of religious edicts. One solution would be to actively engage religious leaders in the transplant community, especially when it has been reported that, across the major religions, there are very few cases where organ donation can be seen to be inconsistent with religious beliefs. Religious leaders should be made available in hospitals and other transplantation setting to assist families in making decisions regarding organ donation and potentially to remove the misperceptions. Staff members who are involved in approaching families to request consent for donation should be part of the awareness programs and resources about religious concerns. Similarly, cultural sensitivity to issues such as apprehensiveness to discuss death among certain groups or individuals and the importance to many of death rituals may improve dialog regarding organ donation.

Studies have shown that engaging some minority groups in the health care system and creating a sense of belonging and ownership can improve compliance with organ donation. As a consequence, more efforts should be made to create positive interactions within the health care team members, especially for minority groups, to improve the organ donation rates. Although many of the studies have showed that higher socio-economic status and education were associated with a stronger willingness to be an organ donor. Some of the strong reservations held, even among those with generally positive views towards donation, such as concerns that agreeing to donation would discourage doctors from caring so much about saving their lives in case of an emergency or that it would result in the premature removal of their organs or indeed prevent them from having an open coffin at their funerals, are examples of very real barriers that can be readily addressed through information. Through a proper awareness and motivation the donation rates can be improved which can save many lives.

7.1. Psychological care

Psychological consultation is essential for all disease stages enabling patients to better cope with their extraordinarily stressful situation. A need for psychological care was found in up to 50% of transplant patients. Educational and supportive therapies are of utmost importance but also cognitive-behavioral interventions including relaxation techniques can also be considered. Less common methods like hypnotherapy and “Quality of Life Therapy” have also been utilized for overcoming the challenges.

Moreover, family members as well as caregivers of transplant patients show increased psychological strain before and after transplantation. Family counseling, and psychotherapeutic support, can help reduce psychological strain, thus also maintaining the valuable social support provided by care givers and family members of the transplant patient. Henceforth, the family and care givers should also be considered in psychosocial evaluation to overcome the problems.

7.2. Alternative methods to increase donation

In view of ethical, legal and political issues, it was deemed important to obtain some opinion about alternative methods to increase organ donation rates. Financial incentives were given to increase organ donation. Many in both donor and non-donor groups were given a reasonable incentive. Education and dissemination of information about donation and transplantation was important to increase organ donation rates. There was nearly universal agreement that implied consent (presumed consent) should not be tried. The use of financial incentives was not markedly opposed (some accepted the idea of funeral expense reimbursement), although there was not strong support either. In general, methods to increase organ donation had not been well thought out by either donors or nondonors indicating, perhaps, that the assumption of altruism or motivation is the best way to increase the donation rates.

8. Responsibilities of nurses in organ donation and transplantation

Organ and tissue transplant nurses need comprehensive and scientific knowledge. They include the evaluation and management of deceased donors, transplant recipients, potential donors or live donors, teaching and counseling of transplant recipients and live donors related to self-care management, healthy life and a peaceful death when this is imminent. This is important in order to improve the posttransplant quality of life.

Nurses have important role in the development of a successful transplantation program. They are key members of the team that works to deliver care to patients and relatives, through the use of technological, logistic and human resources, with a view to coordination, care, education and research on organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Therefore, the nurses need adequate knowledge on the principles of good ethical principles and should have resources available for them to assess patient’s risks and social issues related to organ transplants and donation. The researchers hope that the future studies will encourage further researches on the role and responsibilities of nurses.

9. Conclusion

The organ donation decision is a complex one, based strongly on personal beliefs. There are some factors, such as religious and cultural beliefs, that are seemingly intractable and are often cited as reasons for a refusal to donate. In this chapter, it is shown that these have often been found to be tied in with more complex issues such as a distrust of the medical system, misunderstandings about religious stances and ignorance about the donation process. Interventions to better engage the community, including disadvantaged and minority groups, to foster trust and provide information represent promising opportunities of promoting organ donation in the future.

Donor motives directly contribute to their decision to donate, is not uniform and is influenced by multiple factors. Majority of the donors were relationship oriented donor, whose major motives were desires to relieve the suffering & save the life of their loving ones. Creating awareness to the organ donation will directly influence the donor motives and willingness. By deriving the motives many more intervention to improve the willingness to be a living organ donor can be evolved. Recruitment of living donors represents a medical and moral responsibility. The possibility of organ removal from healthy donor to a recipient needs great inner motivation. Saving one’s life is divine.

The psycho social assessment must be made as a routine part of the nursing process. These assessments are meant to identify patients at risk for poor outcomes, provide guidelines for their management and improve the post-transplant quality of life [ 6 ]. “Because donated organs are a severely limited resource, the best potential, recipients should be identified. The probability of a good outcome must be highly emphasized to achieve the maximum benefit for all transplants” (OPTN/UNOS Ethics committee General Considerations in Assessment for Transplant Candidacy White paper-2010).

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© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Essay on Organ Donation for Students in 1000 Words

Essay on Organ Donation for Students and Children in 1000 Words

In this article, read an essay on organ donation for students and children in 1000 words. It includes meaning, celebration of organ donation day, process, demand, and black market of organ donation.

Table of Contents

Essay on Organ Donation (1000 Words)

Organ donation is a significant donation. It is also said a “reward for life” in other words. By doing this, we can give life to many people.

Nowadays, many prostitutes help in donating organs, encourage it. Nowadays, organs like kidneys, eyes, liver, heart, small intestine, skin tissue are in high demand.

Thousands of people die in an accident in the country every day whose organ donation gives life to other people. Most of the extracted organs are transplanted within 6 to 72 hours. One donor can save eight lives. Donations of liver, kidney, lungs, pancreas, and intestine can be made while alive.

Also read: Essay on Corruption Free India

What is organ donation?

Organ donation is a process in which healthy organs and tissues are taken from a human being (dead and sometimes even alive). Then these organs are transplanted to another needy person. In this way, the life of another person can be saved with organ donation. Organ Donation by One Person Donation made by one person can help 50 needy people.

Organ Donation in India

In India, the percentage of organ donation is deficient according to the population. Every year 5 lakh people in the country die due to lack of organs at the right time. In this, 2 lakh people die due to liver disease. Fifty thousand people die due to vision sickness.

Organ Donation Day Celebration

Organ donation day is celebrated on 13 August every year in government, non-governmental organizations. Institutions such as Gift Ek Jeevan, Mohan Foundation, Gift Your Organ Foundation, Dadhichi Dehdaan Samiti help in organ donation. Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi NCR, Punjab are the most donating states in the country.

Major Organs to Donate

Kidney, liver, intestine, blood vessel, intoxication, skin, bones, ligaments (ligaments) heart, pancreas, heart valves (soft bone), blood, platelets, tissue, the cornea (cornea), tendons.

Problems In Organ Donations

The rule is that in the event of a road accident, only those who died in the hospital can be taken part of their logo. Many people die at the accident site. In such a situation, no part can be found from them.

People are not aware yet. Consider it wrong. Many people do not even register to donate organs during their lifetime. People suffering from cancer, AIDS, infection, sepsis, or any serious illness cannot give an organ.

Organ donation process

A. living organ donor.

Comprehensive medical investigations are required before donating organs to living donors. It also includes the psychological evaluation of the donor to ensure that he or she understands the consequences of the donation and wants to consent to it.

b. Dead donor

With deceased donors, it is first verified whether or not the donor is dead. Death is usually confirmed many times by neuro physicians when it is determined that any part of it can be donated.

After death, they placed the body on a mechanical ventilator to ensure that the organ remains in good condition. Most organs function outside the body for only a few hours and thus ensure that they reach the recipient immediately after removal from the body.

Difference between demand and supply

The need for physical organs is much higher than the number of donors around the world. Every year many patients die while waiting for donors.

Statistics show that the average annual kidney demand in India is two lakhs, while only 6 thousand kidneys are received. Similarly, the average annual market for the heart is 50 thousand, whereas only 15 are available.

I order to increase the number of donors for organs; there is a need to create awareness among the public for donating organs.

Towards this end, the government has also taken some steps like spreading awareness through TV and the Internet, though we still have a long way to go to bridge the gap between demand and supply.

The black market of organs selling

On the one hand, where we are promoting organ donation, its theft has also happened a lot. Nowadays, the theft and black marketing of organs has increased in India.

In government-private hospitals, patients’ kidneys (kidneys), and other organs are being stolen from the nexus of the doctors.

Fake Organization

Many such organizations are active in many states who steal the organs of innocent spears. Such theft is done during the operation.

The organs are sold in foreign patients at high prices. A case of fraud continues to be exposed every day. Weak, vulnerable sections become the most victims of it.

People with plentiful money are ready to pay any cost to the limbs to save their lives. Doctors also keep stealing organs by being lured by money. Thousands of foreign patients come to our country every year, which has some part or two.

Flexibility in Law

Taking advantage of the flexible law of organ transplantation in the country, such people gain organs corruptly. Some poor patients sell their organs for money, but some are fraudulently removed.

Price of organs in the black market

Kidney – 5 to 10 lakhs Bone marrow – 2.5 million Surrogacy (rental womb) – 10 to 20 lakhs Lever – 5 to 10 lakh Heart – above 20 lakhs Cornea – 1.5 million One inch skin – according to 42 thousand rupees

What happens to organs?

Doctors quickly transplant these organs into any patients who have already needed them. Organ transplant hospitals have a waiting list. According to him, the organ is put in the patient whose number is there.

The blood group and many other tests are done for matching while performing the organ. If everything is fine, then the organ is put in, and if the match is not there, then it is matched with the next patient on the waiting list.

Time Duration for Transplant

  • The liver should be transplanted within 6 hours of removal.
  • The kidney should be taken within 12 hours.
  • Eyes should be installed within three days.

Organ donation can save a person’s life. Its importance should not be ignored. A proper system should be encouraged to donate the organ. I hope you will like this essay on organ donation.

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Organ Donation Essay

Organ donation has proved to be a miracle for the society. Organs such as kidneys, heart, eyes, liver, small intestine, bone tissues, skin tissues and veins are donated for the purpose of transplantation. The donor gives a new life to the recipient by the way of this noble act. Organ donation is encouraged worldwide. The government of different countries have put up different systems in place to encourage organ donation. However, the demand for organs is still quite high as compared to their supply. Effective steps must be taken to meet this ever-increasing demand.

Long and Short Essay on Organ Donation in English

We have provided below short and long essay on organ donation in simple English for your information and knowledge.

After going through the essays you will know the significance of organ donation for someone in need, the procedure involved, under what circumstances is it illegal to donate an organ and what are safe physical criterion for organ donation.

You can use these organ donation essay in your school college events wherein you need to give a speech, write an essay or take part in debate.

Organ Donation Essay 1 (200 words)

Organ donation is done by both living and deceased donors. The living donors can donate one of the two kidneys, a lung or a part of a lung, one of the two lobes of their liver, a part of the intestines or a part of the pancreas. While a deceased donor can donate liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, pancreas, cornea tissue, skin tissue, tendons and heart valves.

The organ donation process varies from country to country. The process has broadly been classified into two categories – Opt in and Opt out. Under the opt-in system, one is proactively required to register for donation of his/ her organs while in the opt-out system, every individual becomes a donor post death unless he/she opts-out of it.

There is a huge demand for organs. It is sad how several people in different parts of the world die each year waiting for organ transplant. The governments of different countries are taking steps to raise the supply of organs and in certain parts the number of donors has increased. However, the requirement of organs has simultaneously increased at a much rapid speed.

Each one of us should come forward and register to donate organs after death. “Be an organ donor, all it costs is a little love”.

Organ Donation Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

Organ donation takes place when an organ of a person’s body is removed with his consent while he is alive or with the consent of his family member after his death for the purpose of research or transplant. Kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, bones, bone marrow, corneas, intestines and skin are transplanted to give new life to the receiver.

Organ Donation Process

  • Living Donors

Living donors require undergoing thorough medical tests before organ donation. This also includes psychological evaluation of the donor to ensure whether he understands the consequences of donation and truly consents for it.

  • Deceased Donors

In case of the deceased donors, it is first verified that the donor is dead. The verification of death is usually done multiple times by a neurologist. It is then determined if any of his/ her organs can be donated.

After death, the body is kept on a mechanical ventilator to ensure the organs remain in good condition. Most organs work outside the body only for a couple of hours and thus it is ensured that they reach the recipient immediately after removal.

Gap between Demand and Supply

The demand for organs is considerably higher than the number of donors around the world. Each year several patients die waiting for donors. Statistics reveal that in India against an average annual demand for 200,000 kidneys, only 6,000 are received. Similarly, the average annual demand for hearts is 50,000 while as low as 15 of them are available.

The need for organ donation needs to be sensitized among the public to increase the number of donors. The government has taken certain steps such as spreading awareness about the same by way of TV and internet. However, we still have a long way to go.

Organ donation can save a person’s life. Its importance must not be overlooked. A proper system should be put in place for organ donation to encourage the same.

Organ Donation Essay 3 (400 words)

Organ donation is the process of allowing organ or tissue to be removed surgically from one person to place it in another person or to use it for research purpose. It is done by the consent of donor in case he is alive or by the consent of next of kin after death. Organ donation is encouraged worldwide.

Kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, bones, bone marrow, skin, pancreas, corneas, intestines and skin are commonly used for transplantation to render new life to the recipient. Organ donation is mostly done after the donor’s death. However, certain organs and tissues such as a kidney, lobe of a lung, portion of the liver, intestine or pancreas can be donated by living donors as well.

Organ Donation Consent Process

There are two types of consents when it comes to organ donation. These are the explicit consent and the presumed consent.

  • Explicit Consent: Under this the donor provides a direct consent through registration and carrying out other required formalities based on the country.
  • Presumed Consent: This does not include a direct consent from the donor or the next of kin. As the name suggests, it is assumed that the donation would have been allowed by the potential donor in case consent was pursued.

Among the possible donors approximately twenty five percent of the families deny donation of their loved one’s organs.

Organ Donation in India

  • Legalised by Law

Organ donations are legal as per the Indian law. The Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994 enacted by the government of India permits organ donation and legalizes the concept of brain death.

  • Documentation and Formalities

The donor is required to fill a prescribed form. The same can be taken from the hospital or other medical facility approached for organ donation or can be downloaded from the ministry of health and family welfare government of India’s website.

In case of a deceased donor, a written consent from the lawful custodian is required in the prescribed application form.

As is the case with the rest of the world, the demand of organs in India is much higher compared to their supply. There is a major shortage of donated organs in the country. Several patients are on the wait list and many of them succumb to death waiting for organ transplant.

The government of India is making efforts to spread awareness about organ transplant to encourage the same. However, it needs to take effective steps to raise the number of donors.

Organ Donation Essay 4 (500 words)

Organ donation refers to the process of giving organs or tissues to a living recipient who requires a transplant. Organ donation is mostly done after death. However, certain organs can be donated even by a living donor.

The organs that are mostly used for the purpose of transplant include kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, intestines, lungs, bones and bone marrow. Each country follows its own procedure for organ donation. Here is a look at how different countries encourage and process organ donation.

Organ Donation Process – Opt In and Opt Out

While certain countries follow the organ donation opt-in procedure others have the opt-out procedure in place. Here is a look at the difference between these two processes of organ donation:

  • Opt In System: In the opt-in system, people are required to proactively sign up for the donation of their organs after death.
  • Opt Out System: Under this system, organ donation automatically occurs unless a person specifically makes a request to opt out before death.

Organ Donation in Different Countries

India follows the opt-in system when it comes to organ donation. Anyone who wishes to donate organs needs to fill a prescribed form available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India’s website.

In order to control organ commerce and encourage donation after brain death, the government of India came up with the law, The Transplantation of Human Organs Act in the year 1994. This brought about a considerable change in terms of organ donation in the country.

Spain is known to be the world leader in organ donations. It follows the opt-out system for organ donation.

  • United States

The need for organs in the United States is growing at a rapid pace. Though there has been a rise in the number of organ donors, however, the number of patients waiting for the organs has increased at a much higher rate. Organ donation in the United States is done only with the consent of the donor or their family. However, several organizations here are pushing for the opt-out organ donation.

  • United Kingdom

Organ donation in the United Kingdom is voluntary. Individuals who want to donate their organs after death can register for the same.

This is the only country that has been able to overcome the shortage of transplant organs. It has a legal payment system for organ donation and is also the only country that has legalized organ trade.

Organ donation is quite low in Japan as compared to other western countries. This is mainly due to cultural reasons, distrust in western medicines and a controversial organ transplant that took place in 1968.

In Columbia, the ‘Law 1805’ passed in August 2016, introduced the opt-out policy for organ donation.

Chile opted for the opt-out policy for organ donation under the, ‘Law 20,413’ wherein all the citizens above the age of 18 years will donate organs unless they specifically deny it before death.

Most of the countries around the world suffer from low organ donor rate. The issue must be taken more seriously. Laws to increase the rate of organ donation must be put in place to encourage the same.

Organ Donation Essay 5 (600 words)

Organ Donation is the surgical removal of a living or dead donor’s organs to place them in the recipient to render him/her a new life. Organ donation has been encouraged worldwide. However, the demand of human organs far outweighs the supply. Low rate of organ donation around the world can be attributed to various reasons. These reasons are discussed below in detail.

Teleological Issues

The moral status of the black market organ donation is debatable. While some argue in favour of it others are absolutely against the concept. It has been seen that those who donate their organs are generally from the poor section of the society and those who can afford these are quite well off. There is thus an imbalance in the trade.

It has been observed that those who can purchase the organs are taking advantage of the ones who are desperate to sell. This is said to be one of the reasons for the rising inequality of status between the rich and the poor. On the other hand, it is argued that those who want to sell their organs should be allowed to do so as preventing them from it is only contributing to their status as impoverished. Those who are in favour of the organ trade also argue that exploitation is preferable to death and hence organ trade must be legalized. However, as per a survey, later in life the living donors regret their decision of donating their organs.

Several cases of organ theft have also come forward. While those in support of the legalization of organ market say that this happens because of the black market nature of trade while others state that legalizing it would only result in the rise of such crimes as the criminal can easily state that the organ being sold has not been stolen.

Deontological Issues

These are defined by a person’s ethical duty to take action. Almost all the societies in the world believe that donating organs voluntarily is ethically permissible. Many scholars believe that everyone should donate their organs after death.

However, the main issue from the standpoint of deontological ethics is the debate over the definitions of life, death, body and human. It has been argued that organ donation is an act of causing self harm. The use of cloning to come up with organs with a genotype identical to the recipient is another controversial topic.

Xenotransplantation which is the transfer of animal organs into human bodies has also created a stir. Though this has resulted in increased supply of organs it has also received a lot of criticism. Certain animal rights groups have opposed the sacrifice of animals for organ donation. Campaigns have been launched to ban this new field of transplantation.

Religious Issues

Different religious groups have different viewpoints regarding organ donation. The Hindu religion does not prohibit people from donating organs. The advocates of the Hindu religion state that it is an individual choice. Buddhists share the same view point.

The Catholics consider it as an act of love and charity. It is morally and ethically acceptable as per them. The Christian Church, Islam, United Methodists and Judaism encourage organ donation. However, Gypsies tend to oppose it as they believe in afterlife. The Shintos are also against it as they believe that injuring a dead body is a heinous crime.

Apart from this, the political system of a country also impacts organ donation. The organ donation rate can increase if the government extends proper support. There needs to be a strong political will to ensure rise in the transplant rate. Specialized training, care, facilities and adequate funding must be provided to ensure a rise.

The demand for organs has always been way higher than their supply due to the various issues discussed above. There is a need to focus on these issues and work upon them in order to raise the number of organ donors.

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77 Donation Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best donation topic ideas & essay examples, 💡 most interesting donation topics to write about, 📌 simple & easy donation essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on donation.

  • Voluntary Blood Donation Importance Thus, voluntary blood donation can save the lives of people. The patients with leucosis need the transfusion every day and they will die without the supply of the donated blood.
  • Blood Donation and Its Advertisement The blood donation advertisements have an overall positive effect on people, as they direct people to save the lives of others, as well as educate others on the useful health details and uses of blood. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
  • Importance of Organ Donation Considering the huge number of people in need of different body organs today, and the many that are dying each day due to organ problems, a socially upright member of our society should not consider […]
  • Sperm Donation and Surrogacy in Islam and Christianity The baby at birth, therefore, is genetically identical to the intended parents than the surrogate mother, as opposed to traditionally surrogacy where the baby bears attributes of the surrogate mother and biological father. This is […]
  • Blood Donation Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages of blood donation include stimulation of the body to manufacture more blood, opportunity to save people’s lives, and health benefits.
  • Social Issues: Charitable Donations These factors include awareness of the need to contribute, solicitation, selflessness, cost of the benefit, status in the society, and personal values.
  • Organ and Blood Donation However, ethical and legal issues, and unwillingness of many potential donors to provide consents have slowed down the rate of organ and blood donation in the county.
  • Organ Transplantation and Donation Since people donate organs to others regardless of their locations, nations need to be cautious in order to avoid spread of diseases in the process.
  • “The Consequences of Excessive Unrequested Donations” by D.M. Neal In general, in his article entitled “The consequences of excessive unrequested donations: the case of Hurricane Andrew”, Neal tries to demonstrate how a great number of unneeded donations to regions where a disaster has just […]
  • Blood Donation Importance The donation may be of particular components of blood only or of blood itself. It is quite challenging to seek a donor of a rare blood type during an emergency and the patient may end […]
  • Organ Donation: Willingness to Donate Organ Among Medical Students In conclusion, organ donation is a vital and life-changing procedure that can help save lives and improve the quality of life for those in need.
  • The COVID-19 Impact on Organ Donation The official statistics of the United States government also support the idea that with the onset of the pandemic, the number of organ transplantation procedures has decreased. The pandemic appears to be the main cause […]
  • Prosocial Behavior, Volunteering, and Donation Nevertheless, it is vital to understand that prosocial behavior is a fundamental factor in contributing to the upbringing of responsible and responsive future generations of the nation, which makes the given subject crucial for discussion.
  • The Organ Donation Legislation Critique She expresses outrage and condemnation of the current organ donation legislation and the politicians who drafted it. If the global majority accepts such a perspective, it will lead to a worldwide spike of violence and […]
  • Researching of Xenograft and Organ Donation Doctors have been searching for methods to save lives all along, and xenograft has shown to be one of the most reliable, particularly when it comes to organ replacement. A xenograft is fraught with dangers, […]
  • Organ Donation: Donor Prevalence in Saudi Arabia Donating organs does not pose a threat to the life of the donor; however, it can save the lives of many other people who need organ transplants.
  • Organ Donation Registry Beginning 16th February 2010 through to the 18th the Ypsilanti Lions club organized the organ donation registry table whose main purpose was to invite people from all walks of life to literally give a piece […]
  • Organ Donation: Postmortem Transplantation The ethicality of such actions has been questioned, as this procedure may be ambiguously perceived by the relatives of the deceased patient and the recipient of organs.
  • The Issue of Compensation for Organ Donation Nevertheless, in spite of the fact that proponents of the compensation for the organ donation indicate obvious advantages of using this approach for the healthcare system, opponents emphasize the unethical character of such approaches.
  • Organ Donation: Ethical and Legal Considerations The other approach is by requesting the family of the deceased to give consent for the donation in a case where the deceased did not permit earlier on.
  • Organ Donation in Saudi Arabia: Survey Results A total of 27 participants answered the questions that were asked in the survey. The problems that are behind the ambiguity that people have over this issue are some of their limitations and perceptions.
  • Charitable Agency Project: Sourcing Donations Another idea we can also consider is approaching the rental firms around the city and talking to them about the possibility of having them work with us in developing a clothes rental discount voucher for […]
  • Organ Donation: Ethical Dilemmas An example of an ethical dilemma surrounding the procedure is the case of rich man vs.poor man, or rather, the case of a person who can afford to buy an organ on the black market […]
  • Blood Donation: Term Definition Is not it better to be the one to donate a blood than be the one who is in need of it?
  • Ethics of Organ Donation After Human Death In reference to this case, the ethical dilemma is related to the fact that the hospital administrator needs to disregard the necessity of informed consent for organ donation.
  • Medical Ethics of Child’s Organ Donation Obviously, the parents are the only people who represent the wishes of the patient in the case. The above-mentioned position seems to be viable when it comes to the concept of the greatest good used […]
  • Gene Patenting and Organ Donation Profitability is the key to violating the law, and that is the reason for the lack of transparency in the tissue market.
  • Organ Donation and Transplantation Medicine Although money and financial support will be a major factor in the process of body transplant that Canavero expects to take two years, pegging human life on money is unethical.
  • Organ Donation Myths: Critical Thought This essay is aimed at subverting three of the most common myths about the subject matter by considering the facts closely, relating them to the values concerning the organ donation, and isolating the issues related […]
  • Organ Donation: Importance Information Because of the improved and advanced technology, the practice of organ transplant is becoming more popular and acceptable in the society.
  • The Case of Stolen Donation Money List of dilemmas to be faced: a tough call As it has been stressed above, the primary dilemma of the given case concerns the choice that the Western Australian Museum CEO have to make in […]
  • Ethical Issues in Organ Donation According to the authors of the study, death is defined as, “the irreversible loss of the integrated and coordinated life of the person as a single living organism”.
  • The Ethics of Organ Donation in Modern World The patient is referred to a transplant center and is to their “dismay” put on a national waiting list, after a “series of interviews, physical and medical tests” to determine the suitability of the recipient […]
  • Pros and Cons of Paying for Organ Donation: Arguments for Prohibition Although the potential of people to purchase organs might bring in profits to health care and increase supply and demand of transplanted organs, the fact of increased supply rates is doubtful because recent surveys prove […]
  • Blood Donation as a Charitable Activity for Society We call it the black age where human miserably fought the worst wars of the human history, taken of vast land just for the cause of creating dominance on the map of the earth or […]
  • The Market of Donation and the Services to Individuals on Charitable Basis. The Health Policy of Blood Donation
  • Solving Shortage in a Priceless Market: Insights from Blood Donation
  • Bioethics on Performing Organ Donation Procedure on Alive Patients
  • Informative Speech Organ Donation and Transplant
  • Why Organ Donation Should Be Encouraged
  • Nursing Perspective on the Issue of Living Organ Donation
  • Psychological Issues Related to Sperm Donation
  • The Organ Donation for the Benefit of the People in the Healthcare of the United States
  • Prevention And Treatment Of Blood Donation
  • When a Precedent of Donation Favors Defection in the Prisoner’s Dilemma
  • The Debate Regarding the Controversial Organ Donation and Transplantation
  • Blood Type and Blood Donation Behaviors: An Empirical Test of Pure Altruism Theory
  • Commercial Plasma Donation and Individual Health in Impoverished Rural China
  • The Discriminatory Nature of the FDA’s Blood Donation Policy
  • The Principal of Family Determination in Organ Donation
  • The Importance of Organ Donation in Society
  • The Impact Of Presumed Consent Law On Organ Donation
  • The Impact of Presumed Consent Legislation on Cadaveric Organ Donation
  • The Ethics of Organ Donation After Cardiac Death
  • Legalizing Financial Incentives For Organ Donation
  • The Ethics of Organ Donation in the Light of Plato’s Moral Philosophy
  • The Red Cross’ Advertisement Promoting Blood Donation
  • The History of Organ Donation and Transplantation
  • We Can Make The System Of Donation Effective Without Such Ethical Risks
  • Resources and Programs Pertaining to the Donation of Organs
  • Application On Blood Vessels Donation Using Android Platform
  • Subsidizing Altruism In Living Organ Donation
  • The Unethical Issues in the Process of Egg Donation
  • Improving Organ Donation Through Clarification and Education
  • The Importance of Legalizing Payment for Organ Donation
  • Applying Sociological Perspectives On Organ Donation
  • The Effect of Presumed Consent Defaults on Organ Donation
  • Who Clicks on Online Donation? Understanding the Characteristics of SNS Users during Participation in Online Campaigns
  • Seven Pounds: Donation and Man’s Humanity
  • Tissue Engineering in Replace of Organ Donation
  • Unofficial Development Assistance: A Dynamic Model of Charities’ Donation Income
  • Using Donation Mechanisms to Value Nonuse Benefits From Public Goods
  • The Life Saving Benefits of Organ Donation
  • Why Cash For Kidneys is Better Than Organ Donation
  • Sperm or Egg Donation and Children’s Rights
  • The Ethical Issues of Organ Donation in the United States
  • The Ultimate Gift: The Gift of life-Organ Donation
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CBSE Library

Essay on Organ Donation

Essay on Organ Donation | Organ Donation Essay for Students and Children in English

Essay on organ donation : Organ donation is an extremely noble and honorable act that benefits society in many ways. It involves removing organs or tissues from a usually dead body and transplanting it to a different body.

Organ donation can be either done by a dead person, provided his family members give consent. It can also be done when a person signs a form for donating his organs once he dies. In this article, we have provided an expanded essay and a brief essay along with ten lines on the topic, to help children write these essays in their examinations.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Organ Donation for Students and Kids

Given below is one Long essay on Organ Donation of 500 words and one precise essay of around 100-150 words on organ donation, in English.

Long Essay on Organ Donation in English 500 words

Organ Donation essay is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Organ donation is defined as the removal of organs from a body and transplanting it to a new body, by surgical means. Organ donation happens in a lot of ways. Unless it is consensual, it is not legal.

The requirement for new organs usually arises when a person loses an organ to some accident or stops functioning. For example, patients with acute liver cirrhosis may require a liver transplant. A liver transplant is usually done by removing a small part of the liver from a healthy person’s body and transplanting it.

Likewise, organs like the retina of the eye, and kidneys can be donated. These organs remain functional for a few hours after removing them from the patient’s body. In the case of a heart transplant, it must be done immediately after removing it from the dead person’s body. However, a heart transplant can be done only when the donor is declared brain dead by doctors.

Organ transplant dramatically depends on the availability of human organs. Organ transplantation is the only way of saving the lives of patients who have had terminal organ failure. Patients with two dysfunctional kidneys cannot live, so kidney transplant is necessary to keep them.

Due to the vast disparity between the availability of and demand for organs, few patients are lucky enough to get organ transplantation, at the right time. Organ donation follows a very detailed procedure.

Firstly, a person can sign up and register for donating his organs. In this case, a person voluntarily consents to donate his organs after his death. After he passes away, the doctors remove the eyes and other organs that can be preserved from his body and stores them. These donated organs are used to help patients in need of organ transplantation.

Secondly, if a person is declared brain dead by doctors, his family members can officially consent to donate his organs. Such cases usually happen when a patient is desperately in need of an organ, and delay can be fatal.

Professionals must do organ transplants because it is a surgical procedure. An organ transplant is also a touchy topic and must be done intricately. There are different kinds of organ donations. Autograft refers the transplantation of tissues from one site to another site. The skin of legs is often removed to end a damaged area of another part of the body.

Isograft refers to the transplantation of organs between genetically identical individuals. This is a safer process because it runs no risk of the immune response, which leads to rejection.

While transplanting as an organ, it is essential to know whether the organ matches the patient’s blood group and body. On several occasions, it has been seen that organ transplant has failed because the patient’s body has been unable to accept the organ from the donor. Organ transplantation is a delicate issue but can save the lives of many people. It is an extremely excellent way of serving society. Our deeds live on after we die, and this is a way to ensure that people will remember us for our contributions.

Short Essay on Organ Donation in English 150 words

Organ Donation essay is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Like all other surgeries, organ transplant also involves numerous risks. It is indeed an excellent way of curing terminal diseases, but it comes with a price. To start with, the donor’s organ may not match that of the recipient, thus causing complete failure. The blood group and their blood factors must match to have a successful transplant.

Despite a successful operation, post-surgical complications may develop, causing various immunity-related disorders. This mainly happens when the tissues do not match and cases infection. The body treats the transplanted organ as a foreign substance and creates antibodies to fight against it. Thus, the process involves a lot of risk factors.

10 Lines on Essay on Organ Donation in English

  • Organ donation is an extremely advanced and exceptional way of curing fatal diseases.
  • It happens by removing a part of an organ from the donor’s body and transplanting it to the recipient’s body.
  • Among the various risks involved in organ transplantation, the immune response is the most dangerous one.
  • If the organ of the donor does not match with that of the recipient, the recipient’s body will start creating antibodies to counter the organ, which the body will view as an alien object.
  • This gives rise to immunity-related disorders and can even result in death.
  • Even after death, some organs of the body can be preserved and stored. If these organs are donated, it might save somebody else’s life.
  • The rates of organ donation have significantly increased due to the number of successful cases.
  • However, organ smuggling is a serious crime and is dangerous for society.
  • Sometimes, the organs removed for donation may be smuggled by unscrupulous people who do heinous crimes for money.
  • We must understand the necessity behind organ donation and support it.

Frequently Asked Questions on Essay on Organ Donation

Question 1. What is organ smuggling?

Answer: Criminals often smuggle organs for monetary purposes. This is illegal and has grave consequences.

Question 2. What is a liver transplant?

Answer: Liver transplant includes removing an area of the donor’s liver, deceased or Live, and transplanting it to the body of the recipient.

Question 3. Can kidneys be donated?

Answer: Yes, kidneys can be donated. People can function with one kidney. For patients whose both the kidneys have become dysfunctional, kidney transplant becomes unavoidable.

Question 4. Can the donor run any risk in case of organ donation?

Answer: Usually, in the case of live donors, they are not severely affected, but at times, their lifespan can become shorter due to the removal of a part of the organ.

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Should Kidney Donors Be Paid?

A guest essay argued in favor of payments. Readers, including donors, offer divergent views.

An illustration of a shirtless man dangling his feet in a kidney-shaped pool.

To the Editor:

Re “ We Should Be Allowed to Sell Our Kidneys ,” by Dylan Walsh (Opinion guest essay, April 4):

I’ve seen firsthand how kidney transplants can transform the lives of patients living with debilitating renal disease who are often forced to spend hours each week in painful and exhausting dialysis treatments. Mr. Walsh is correct that we need to greatly boost the number of living organ donors. But before we consider paying people for their kidneys, we need to ensure that every potential donor has an equitable chance to also receive a lifesaving organ transplant.

Even though undocumented people can and do donate organs, far too many of the undocumented, Black and low-income clients we serve with severe renal disease are unable to receive treatment at transplant centers run by private hospitals, despite many of them being excellent medical candidates for a successful transplant.

It would be grossly unethical for our government to encourage them to sell their organs when they receive far less than an equitable share of needed organs.

There are many steps the federal and state governments can take to gather data on transplant equity and require tax-exempt health systems to provide fair and equitable access to transplant care, regardless of immigration or insurance status, income or race. We must create a fair system before we consider a market for organs.

Karina Albistegui Adler New York The writer is co-director of health justice for New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.

As president of the American Society of Transplantation, I know there is an extreme need for additional organs to support lifesaving organ transplantation. Dylan Walsh aptly describes the challenge.

We at the A.S.T. support the author’s intent to increase living donation. However, A.S.T. policy opposes direct remuneration for organs, as it would encourage donations for financial rather than altruistic reasons, thereby propagating disparities. Instead, we aim to remove disincentives that prevent living donors from providing a lifesaving gift.

The A.S.T. is advancing effective solutions. The Living Donor Protection Act , which ensures that life, disability and long-term care insurers cannot discriminate against living donors, has bipartisan support. Other legislation provides a one-time tax credit for living donors that would offset donors’ expenses without providing perverse incentives. The A.S.T. also encourages companies to offer paid leave for living donors through our Circle of Excellence initiative.

Living donors alone cannot meet demand. The A.S.T. is engaged in ongoing work with the Health Resources and Services Administration, patients and other stakeholders to optimize the existing system for deceased donor transplantation, maximize the use of all available organs and minimize non-use.

These activities, along with research on the best strategies to remove disincentives, will result in meaningful progress. Selling organs is not the answer we need now.

Josh Levitsky Chicago The writer is a professor of medicine, surgery and medical education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Five years ago I donated my left kidney to a stranger after seeing his flyer posted in Starbucks. I was not paid money for my efforts. Yet it was one of the most rewarding endeavors in my life. Throughout the process, I learned many of the lessons that Dylan Walsh discusses.

Even though it’s too late for me to benefit financially, I strongly support the idea of paying future donors. The criticism that rich, powerful people will take advantage of the poor or vulnerable is based on the incorrect assumption that it’s not a rational decision to incur personal risks for financial and other benefits.

It is legal for women to act as paid surrogates carrying a pregnancy that poses at least as many potential medical risks as the nephrectomy. Paying people for kidneys is no different.

As a social worker who has worked with vulnerable people for decades, I believe it’s possible to create safety protocols to ensure that no one is making a decision that is coerced or lacking proper informed consent. There is no better reward than the good feeling of saving a life. Paying someone to do it is just icing on the cake.

Catherine Pearlman Laguna Niguel, Calif.

Nineteen years ago, I donated a kidney to my younger sister with the hope she would live another 10 good years. She had 12 good years, two not so good, and died at the age of 63. I am now 72 and have no regrets, but I remain strongly opposed to the concept of selling kidneys.

The organ transplant community tells only half the story, which is that donors should expect to live well with just one kidney. The other half of the story is what might be involved in recuperating from major surgery. To those involved in physical labor, I would tell them to be prepared to lose your livelihood for up to a year. Sure, there will be anecdotes like “I was mowing my lawn a week later!” But for me, even months later, my children told me that I walked funny.

With a Ph.D. in ethics, I am well aware of the ongoing debate of autonomy versus paternalism on all kinds of subjects. It’s too simplistic to say, “People should be allowed the personal freedom to sell a kidney.” We live in a society that limits our choices in all kinds of ways and for good reason.

In this case, I don’t see the transplant community ever being fully transparent about all the consequences of making this choice, just as they weren’t with me.

Thomas P. Roberts Hillsborough, N.C.

Dylan Walsh’s essay struck a chord. I have failing kidneys, brought on by being one of the millions of Americans with diabetes. Now 75, I long ago made major changes relating to diet, weight and exercise. Unfortunately, my progressive chronic kidney disease refused to get better.

So many of those thousands of Americans who are on waiting lists are young people deserving of so much more life to live. With so few donor kidneys available even for them, at my age I’ve made the decision not to seek a donor kidney, not to add my name to the waiting list. It would not be fair for those who have yet to experience a full life to miss out because I was next in line.

Would I like more time to enjoy life, love, family, etc.? Of course. If Mr. Walsh’s piece gains traction, and one day there are donor kidneys aplenty, I look forward to changing my mind.

Esteban S. Corona, Calif. The writer’s full name is not being used to protect his medical privacy.

The essay by Dylan Walsh highlights the travesty of our kidney transplant program. We are allowed to sell our blood, serum, sperm or ova but not kidneys, which are in short supply.

In addition to Mr. Walsh’s suggestion I would add another: Trade a kidney to stay out of jail. If select first offenders were given the opportunity to avoid a prison sentence by donating a kidney, they would benefit immediately by avoiding incarceration.

Society would benefit from obtaining a young healthy kidney while avoiding the cost of prison sentences. The offender/donor would avoid the many negative aspects of imprisonment. The kidney donation will save the life of someone who might otherwise die of kidney failure.

The experience of saving a life might also contribute to the rehabilitation of a first offender.

Robert W. Morgan Vero Beach, Fla. The writer is an epidemiologist.

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How Pew Research Center will report on generations moving forward

Journalists, researchers and the public often look at society through the lens of generation, using terms like Millennial or Gen Z to describe groups of similarly aged people. This approach can help readers see themselves in the data and assess where we are and where we’re headed as a country.

Pew Research Center has been at the forefront of generational research over the years, telling the story of Millennials as they came of age politically and as they moved more firmly into adult life . In recent years, we’ve also been eager to learn about Gen Z as the leading edge of this generation moves into adulthood.

But generational research has become a crowded arena. The field has been flooded with content that’s often sold as research but is more like clickbait or marketing mythology. There’s also been a growing chorus of criticism about generational research and generational labels in particular.

Recently, as we were preparing to embark on a major research project related to Gen Z, we decided to take a step back and consider how we can study generations in a way that aligns with our values of accuracy, rigor and providing a foundation of facts that enriches the public dialogue.

A typical generation spans 15 to 18 years. As many critics of generational research point out, there is great diversity of thought, experience and behavior within generations.

We set out on a yearlong process of assessing the landscape of generational research. We spoke with experts from outside Pew Research Center, including those who have been publicly critical of our generational analysis, to get their take on the pros and cons of this type of work. We invested in methodological testing to determine whether we could compare findings from our earlier telephone surveys to the online ones we’re conducting now. And we experimented with higher-level statistical analyses that would allow us to isolate the effect of generation.

What emerged from this process was a set of clear guidelines that will help frame our approach going forward. Many of these are principles we’ve always adhered to , but others will require us to change the way we’ve been doing things in recent years.

Here’s a short overview of how we’ll approach generational research in the future:

We’ll only do generational analysis when we have historical data that allows us to compare generations at similar stages of life. When comparing generations, it’s crucial to control for age. In other words, researchers need to look at each generation or age cohort at a similar point in the life cycle. (“Age cohort” is a fancy way of referring to a group of people who were born around the same time.)

When doing this kind of research, the question isn’t whether young adults today are different from middle-aged or older adults today. The question is whether young adults today are different from young adults at some specific point in the past.

To answer this question, it’s necessary to have data that’s been collected over a considerable amount of time – think decades. Standard surveys don’t allow for this type of analysis. We can look at differences across age groups, but we can’t compare age groups over time.

Another complication is that the surveys we conducted 20 or 30 years ago aren’t usually comparable enough to the surveys we’re doing today. Our earlier surveys were done over the phone, and we’ve since transitioned to our nationally representative online survey panel , the American Trends Panel . Our internal testing showed that on many topics, respondents answer questions differently depending on the way they’re being interviewed. So we can’t use most of our surveys from the late 1980s and early 2000s to compare Gen Z with Millennials and Gen Xers at a similar stage of life.

This means that most generational analysis we do will use datasets that have employed similar methodologies over a long period of time, such as surveys from the U.S. Census Bureau. A good example is our 2020 report on Millennial families , which used census data going back to the late 1960s. The report showed that Millennials are marrying and forming families at a much different pace than the generations that came before them.

Even when we have historical data, we will attempt to control for other factors beyond age in making generational comparisons. If we accept that there are real differences across generations, we’re basically saying that people who were born around the same time share certain attitudes or beliefs – and that their views have been influenced by external forces that uniquely shaped them during their formative years. Those forces may have been social changes, economic circumstances, technological advances or political movements.

When we see that younger adults have different views than their older counterparts, it may be driven by their demographic traits rather than the fact that they belong to a particular generation.

The tricky part is isolating those forces from events or circumstances that have affected all age groups, not just one generation. These are often called “period effects.” An example of a period effect is the Watergate scandal, which drove down trust in government among all age groups. Differences in trust across age groups in the wake of Watergate shouldn’t be attributed to the outsize impact that event had on one age group or another, because the change occurred across the board.

Changing demographics also may play a role in patterns that might at first seem like generational differences. We know that the United States has become more racially and ethnically diverse in recent decades, and that race and ethnicity are linked with certain key social and political views. When we see that younger adults have different views than their older counterparts, it may be driven by their demographic traits rather than the fact that they belong to a particular generation.

Controlling for these factors can involve complicated statistical analysis that helps determine whether the differences we see across age groups are indeed due to generation or not. This additional step adds rigor to the process. Unfortunately, it’s often absent from current discussions about Gen Z, Millennials and other generations.

When we can’t do generational analysis, we still see value in looking at differences by age and will do so where it makes sense. Age is one of the most common predictors of differences in attitudes and behaviors. And even if age gaps aren’t rooted in generational differences, they can still be illuminating. They help us understand how people across the age spectrum are responding to key trends, technological breakthroughs and historical events.

Each stage of life comes with a unique set of experiences. Young adults are often at the leading edge of changing attitudes on emerging social trends. Take views on same-sex marriage , for example, or attitudes about gender identity .

Many middle-aged adults, in turn, face the challenge of raising children while also providing care and support to their aging parents. And older adults have their own obstacles and opportunities. All of these stories – rooted in the life cycle, not in generations – are important and compelling, and we can tell them by analyzing our surveys at any given point in time.

When we do have the data to study groups of similarly aged people over time, we won’t always default to using the standard generational definitions and labels. While generational labels are simple and catchy, there are other ways to analyze age cohorts. For example, some observers have suggested grouping people by the decade in which they were born. This would create narrower cohorts in which the members may share more in common. People could also be grouped relative to their age during key historical events (such as the Great Recession or the COVID-19 pandemic) or technological innovations (like the invention of the iPhone).

By choosing not to use the standard generational labels when they’re not appropriate, we can avoid reinforcing harmful stereotypes or oversimplifying people’s complex lived experiences.

Existing generational definitions also may be too broad and arbitrary to capture differences that exist among narrower cohorts. A typical generation spans 15 to 18 years. As many critics of generational research point out, there is great diversity of thought, experience and behavior within generations. The key is to pick a lens that’s most appropriate for the research question that’s being studied. If we’re looking at political views and how they’ve shifted over time, for example, we might group people together according to the first presidential election in which they were eligible to vote.

With these considerations in mind, our audiences should not expect to see a lot of new research coming out of Pew Research Center that uses the generational lens. We’ll only talk about generations when it adds value, advances important national debates and highlights meaningful societal trends.

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Today’s Campus Protest Crackdowns Are All Too Familiar to Me

I lived through a similar college crisis after 9/11. the lessons of that era are urgent..

As the student-run, pro-Palestinian protest encampments at Columbia University spread across the country, they have drawn increasing scrutiny from politicians and media figures who want to see them crushed. Most recently, GOP Sens. Tom Cotton and Josh Hawley made a ludicrous call to send in the National Guard to disperse the protestors. Though absurd, the idea was very much in keeping with the far right’s lust for using violence against dissent . But if we take a step back from this immediate controversy, we should see that what is unfolding on campuses is nothing new. It’s merely the latest iteration of a battle over who can say what about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And you do not have to endorse every strategic or rhetorical move of the protestors to recognize that the right has dramatically escalated its effort—which stretches back more than two decades to the immediate post-9/11 period—to use public pressure to shame, silence, and destroy critics of Israeli and American policy.

I started a Ph.D. program focusing on Middle East politics a week or so before 9/11. It didn’t take long before the patriotic fervor that enveloped the United States in the aftermath of those horrific attacks turned into calls to fire professors who violated the new codes of nationalist correctness that were informally imposed in the years following the disaster. What conservatives now decry as “ cancel culture ” was standard operating procedure in the early 2000s for right-wing organizations. In 2005, for example, University of Colorado professor of ethnic studies Ward Churchill became the target of a nationwide campaign calling for his dismissal after an essay he had written after 9/11—which used needlessly incendiary language to make a bog-standard argument about the attacks being blowback for U.S. foreign policy—went viral. Churchill was later fired for plagiarism , allegations of which would never have surfaced without the preceding national media firestorm.

The right put real weight into this effort, including creating the organization Campus Watch, started in 2002 by Daniel Pipes (who has been arguing for more than 20 years that the path to peace runs through ruthlessly crushing the Palestinians and then forcing them to “ lose hope ”), then the director of the Middle East Forum. While apologists said that they were merely documenting what gets said and written about the Middle East on American campuses, anyone who directly experienced being targeted by the group can attest that the ultimate goal was to build pressure on universities to fire or refuse tenure to high-profile critics of Israel and American foreign policy.

If you can make tenuring someone a big enough headache, then colleges might ultimately prefer to pay one-time settlements to aggrieved faculty members rather than deal with complaints about them, particularly from deep-pocketed donors, for 30 more years. Campus Watch compiled lists of professors, by institution, with short articles documenting things that they had said or written about Israel or the “War on Terror.” Once a few well-known professors met professional doom as a result of these efforts, it had a chilling effect on the willingness of scholars at other institutions to speak out or even to publish certain kinds of research. That was the point. The relentless unpleasantness of dealing with such people was a major motivation behind my decision not to study the Israeli-Palestinian conflict professionally.

This was not an abstract fear. One of the first classes I ever taught was a discussion section for a large International Relations of the Middle East course at the University of Pennsylvania that was taught by my eventual dissertation adviser. On the first day of class, he asked everyone why they were taking the course, and one student said, “I want to see how the Middle East is taught.” That person ended up in my discussion section and made everyone’s lives a living hell for four months, not because his beliefs were particularly unusual but because he refused to let any kind of discussion unfold without aggressively advancing the Israeli far right’s position, to the point where he repeatedly left other students in tears. He eventually told me that he had been asked to do this by Campus Watch in an effort to document whatever the professor—a prominent liberal, Jewish supporter of the two-state solution—was saying in class. As a second-year graduate student with no professional power, I very much did not want to end up in the crosshairs of Campus Watch, so I bent over backward, in retrospect perhaps too far, to ensure that this student felt like he could say whatever he wanted in my section.

This effort was far from limited to Penn. And Columbia in particular is not a newcomer to being at the center of national controversy about free speech as it relates to Israel and the Middle East. Twenty years ago, the David Project produced a documentary called Columbia Unbecoming , which attacked several Columbia professors, including Joseph Massad (also at the center of controversy today ), accusing them of racism and bias against Jews and other students who disagreed with them in class. Cancel-culture warrior du jour Bari Weiss was heavily involved as an undergraduate, and while she denied calling specific professors racist or seeking to have them dismissed, it would take a willful suspension of disbelief to think that the purpose was neither to silence them nor to harm their career prospects.

Massad’s tenure application became a national controversy, and while he received his promotion, efforts to get him fired have begun anew after he published an article last year for Electronic Intifada that critics argued painted the Hamas attackers in a positive light. (The name of that publication has perhaps contributed to the controversy.) Massad naturally disagrees with that assessment of his piece. Others, like DePaul University political scientist Norman Finkelstein , were denied tenure or saw job offers rescinded. Steven Salaita’s position in the American Indian Studies program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was withdrawn after some offensive tweets of his surfaced. In both cases the universities were forced to offer substantial financial settlements. These were extreme examples, but for every national news story like them there were likely countless instances of universities quietly passing on someone whose positions on Palestine might have ruffled feathers.

Today, efforts to intimidate aren’t limited to faculty. The explosion of social media has made it possible to target individual students participating in protests or other actions. To choose one example, the New York law firm Davis Polk rescinded offers of employment to several Harvard and Columbia law students for signing a letter that placed blame on Israel for Oct. 7. Harvard donor and repeat Twitter main character Bill Ackman led the call to blacklist students who committed anti-Israel thought-crimes, an effort that was applauded by a number of other titans of industry and commerce. Today, this crowd is calling for Columbia protestors to be ineligible for loan forgiveness, expelled , arrested , or to meet the wrath of the National Guard. One gets the sense that they would not be terribly unhappy if another Kent State unfolded in New York City, because assaulting, maiming, and running over protestors has become a shared dream on the American far right. And if this is not cancel culture, then the term genuinely has no meaning.

The goalposts have also moved significantly. Today, students and faculty are the subject of a national pressure campaign to redefine antisemitism to include things like “ anti-Zionism ” and slogans with complicated and contested meanings like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” And while I am troubled by the way that Zionism has become a pejorative on the left, the effort to effectively outlaw or even criminalize opposition to Zionism is outrageous and extremely dangerous. That also includes the asymmetric bans of campus groups like Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace at Columbia and elsewhere. And it is very hard to watch people who not long ago turned J.K. Rowling into an international martyr for free speech celebrating the destruction of lives and careers of people who signed a problematic statement or who don’t believe in or support Israel’s destruction of Gaza, the occupation, the settler movement, and similar projects that subjugate and immiserate Palestinians.

The real issues involved in the campus speech battles are actually much more complex than anyone in this debate would like to admit. Colleges and universities are not just giant free speech zones where anything goes. They are also workplaces for faculty and staff and literal homes for hundreds of thousands of students. I would not want to be the administrator tasked with navigating the often incompatible demands of employment law, academic freedom, free speech rights, and community standards, especially not in the midst of a heated controversy that places all of the unresolved tensions over campus speech front and center.

But let’s be clear: Most people who have turned Columbia into a national lightning rod couldn’t care less about the human beings who live and work there or the very real challenges of making everyone on campus feel safe, heard, and free. They are heaping scorn on the encampment not because they oppose civil disobedience but because the protestors represent the leading edge of a generational change in attitudes about Israel. And I can guarantee that most critics calling for the heads of Columbia students for the terrible crime of camping out on their own university’s lawn were enthusiastically in favor of , for example, trucker convoys laying siege to major cities in 2021 to protest vaccine mandates. The bottom line is that to forestall the coming reckoning with 40 years of failed, unjust policy, Israel’s defenders want to criminalize it, to cast Palestinians out of the public sphere and hound them until—despairing of the impact of their activism on their life and career prospects—they give up.

And the message from the protestors is and should be very clear: That’s not happening.

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  26. Columbia Israel-Gaza protests: Today's university campus censorship has

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