• The What, Why and Who of Organ and Tissue Donation
• Becoming a Donor is a Personal Decision
• The Donor Card is Important
• Print your own Donor Card straight from this website!
• Organ Donation FAQs . . .

The What, Why and Who of Organ Donation

What is organ and tissue donation?
It's a unique opportunity to save lives! Organ and tissue donations may be used for

• TRANSPLANTS -- Today, it's possible to transplant about 25 different organs and tissues, including:
  

  ¤ Corneas     ¤ Heart     ¤ Liver     ¤ Kidneys     ¤ Bond and cartilage

  ¤ Bone marrow ¤ Skin ¤ Pancreas ¤ Lung ¤ Heart-lung

• RESEARCH -- People who donate organs and tissues for research make it possible for others to study the human body and the conditions that affect it.

Why is it important to donate organs and tissues?
Because the greater the number of donors, the greater the number of lives that can be saved.

• The success rate of transplants is rising -- Each year, tens of thousands of people receive transplants. New drugs, improved surgical techniques, and skilled health professionals are making more and more transplants successful.
• But -- more donations are needed! -- Useful organs and tissues are unavailable to many people who desperately need them.

You can make a difference by becoming a donor.

Who receives transplants?
They're given to patients on the basis of need and medical criteria.

• THE UNITED NETWORK FOR ORGAN SHARING (UNOS) has prepared guidelines to ensure that:
  • All patients have equal access to organs
  • Donors and patients who need organs ar appropriately matched
  • Patients who have the greatest need will have the highest priority for receiving an organ
• HOW ORGANS AND TISSUES ARE DISTRIBUTED:
  • Organ distribution is nationally coordinated. Regional organ banks, linked to a national computer network, speed the process of matching donors with recipients.
  • Tissue distribution is coordinated by various tissue banks.

Becoming a Donor is a Personal Decision

But it may help you to talk with:

• Your Family.
  Explain why you're thinking about becoming a donor. Let them express how they feel about organ and tissue donation. Keep in mind that donating organs and tissues could be comforting to your family -- a symbolic way for you to continue to live.
• Your Friends.
  Some may already carry donor cards. If so, ask them why they made that choice.
• A Member of the Clergy.
  All major religions support organ and tissue donation. Of you have specific concerns about your religion's position, talk with a member of the clergy.

The Donor Card is Important

• ORGANS AND TISSUES MUST BE REMOVED QUICKLY!
  For example:
  • Heart, liver and kidneys must be removed as soon as possible after brain death occurs.**
  • Many tissues must be removed within 24 hours.
• A DONOR CARD IDENTIFIES YOU IMMEDIATELY
  It instantly alerts medical personnel to your wishes, increasing the chances that your organs and tissues can be used to benefit others if you die.
• A DONOR CARD IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT
  However, depending on your state's laws, your next of kin still may need to give consent for any organ or tissue donation. That's why it's so important to tell family members your wishes.

Print your own Donor Card!

Clicking on the link below will take you to a simple webpage with a single printable image: a Donor Card! The image has a gray line around it -- that is where you should trim the card from the printed page. The dashed gray line about half way down the image is the place to fold the card after you have printed it. After deciding to become an organ donor (discussion with family and physician, and perhaps clergy), simply print the page, cut out the card, fill it out and carry it with you.
Additionally, we would love to know if you decided to utilize our online card. If you do so, please send us an email (using either the email link below or our Form Page) and let us know -- we would love to hear from you! Congratulations on your decision!