Using Death As A Fighting Chance For Life

(Note: This entry constitutes my humble participation in BlogCatalog's first world wide blogger social campaign to raise awareness about organ donation and the issues surrounding organ donation, on this Wednesday July 18, 2007)

As of 2005, more than 4,000 Canadians were waiting for an organ transplant to save their lives. In the U.S., there are currently some 97000 transplantation candidates likewise awaiting for a chance to live.

All the while, and despite continuing advances in medicine and technology, the demand for organs keeps on drastically exceeding the number of organ donors - in both Canada and the U.S.A..

Organ donation sources are divided into two categories: A) from living donors; and B) from deceased donors.

On the one hand, it is quite understandable that the majority of healthy folks out there would be reluctant to undergo an invasive (and sometimes painful) medical procedure in order to donate a kidney, part of a liver, some bone marrow, or other vitally needed organs/tissues for transplantation. After all, one can live quite easily with only one kidney, one lung or half of one's liver. And whatever bone marrow is taken out will be replaced with fresh one soon enough by one's own body. Hence, it is having to "go under the knife" which constitutes a "show-stopper" - again, quite understandably. Furthermore, those courageous enough to do so nonetheless (one inspiring example here) often find themselves with financial hurdles, such as a lack of paid sick leave, lack of sickness compensation and other direct/indirect costs (travel, medical, etc.). Consequently, organ/tissue donations from living donors will ever remain problematic at best, scarce at worst.

On the other hand, donations from deceased donors has become likewise problematic. Canada and the U.S. operate under a system called informed consent: would-be donors must sign some sort of donation card — often on the back of their driver's licence — to signal their wishes. And even then, unless this is accompanied by a formal legal document, families have the last word - and those all too often allow their grief, ignorance and/or superstitions to dictate their decision to refuse. This is especially compounded by cultural, religious and/or ignorance-driven misconceptions with regards to what makes a human being dead, in sharp opposition to the clinical/scientific definition of death (Terry Schiavo, anyone?). In addition, silly (or as I would rather say: intellectual sloth-driven) myths cloud the decision to actually sign a donor card, such as the ridiculous fear that if you sign one, you won't receive as good a care as someone who has declined to donate organs by not signing.

Still, in the meantime, there is an emerging worldwide market for organs - in good part of the black market type in nature and all too often profiteering from poor folks who have nothing to sell but their own body parts. Not counting that the quality of organs/tissues so obtained often leaves to be desired - at the risk of recipients (whether they be filthy rich or not).

However, here are four simple ways to alleviate (in good part) these problems in the medium and long run:

1) Learn more about organ and tissue donations (more here, here, here and here);

2) Know the myths about organ donations and spread the word in debunking them (more here);

3) Sign your donor card;

and 4) Discuss your decision extensively with your family members (if push comes to shove, cement your decision in your will or any similar type of legal document).

Hence, while donating organs/tissues as a living donor is understandably a harrowing prospect to consider, do show nonetheless courage and altruism by reminding yourself that it is the greatest gift one can give by using one's death as a fighting chance for life.

Look at it as a way to have the last laugh at death itself.

But in the meantime, do live a long, prosperous and happy life, eh?


(Cross-posted at DKos and at Suzie-Q)