If you had a chance to save up to eight people’s lives, would you do it? If you’re an organ
donor, that may be possible.
The concept of organ donation is a very important idea, especially in today’s medical
community. In this paper I will discuss the history, present and future of organ donation ranging
from its beginnings in the 8th century B.C. to modern technology and techniques. I will also
discuss the difficulties surrounding awareness of becoming an organ donor, including religious
views; the different theories on how to get more people to donate their organs as well as the
critical responses that are opposed to those ideas; and alternatives to organ donation such as
human grown artificial organs. The goal of this paper …show more content…
There is no age requirement to becoming a potential donor. Both children and senior
citizens can become donors. Organs that can be donated are kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas
and intestines. (Lippincott, Williams, & Wikins, 2010, pg 25) Regardless of race, age, or medical
history you can donate an organ unless you have active cancer or HIV/AIDS and minors …show more content…
(Lippincott, Williams, & Wikins, 2010, pg 25)
The reason we seem to have such a difficult time increasing our donor pool is a lack of
knowledge regarding organ donation. Some people believe that age, illness or physical defects
keep them from being a donor; when in reality “Each person’s medical condition is evaluated at
the time of their death to determine what organs and tissue are viable for donation. People living
with chronic disease or those who have a history of cancer or other serious disease are still
encouraged to join the donor registry.” (ATF, 2014) Many believe that if they are a donor many
doctors will not work as hard to save their life. “The first priority of a medical professional is to
save lives when sick or injured people come to the hospital.” (ATF, 2014) It is also not true that
people of wealth or power take priority on the waiting list. “Severity of illness, time spent
waiting, blood type, and match potential are the factors that determine your place on the waiting
list. A patient’s income, race and social status are never taken into account in the allocation
process.” (ATF, 2014) Many potential donors believe that if they donate their organs an
donor, that may be possible.
The concept of organ donation is a very important idea, especially in today’s medical
community. In this paper I will discuss the history, present and future of organ donation ranging
from its beginnings in the 8th century B.C. to modern technology and techniques. I will also
discuss the difficulties surrounding awareness of becoming an organ donor, including religious
views; the different theories on how to get more people to donate their organs as well as the
critical responses that are opposed to those ideas; and alternatives to organ donation such as
human grown artificial organs. The goal of this paper …show more content…
There is no age requirement to becoming a potential donor. Both children and senior
citizens can become donors. Organs that can be donated are kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas
and intestines. (Lippincott, Williams, & Wikins, 2010, pg 25) Regardless of race, age, or medical
history you can donate an organ unless you have active cancer or HIV/AIDS and minors …show more content…
(Lippincott, Williams, & Wikins, 2010, pg 25)
The reason we seem to have such a difficult time increasing our donor pool is a lack of
knowledge regarding organ donation. Some people believe that age, illness or physical defects
keep them from being a donor; when in reality “Each person’s medical condition is evaluated at
the time of their death to determine what organs and tissue are viable for donation. People living
with chronic disease or those who have a history of cancer or other serious disease are still
encouraged to join the donor registry.” (ATF, 2014) Many believe that if they are a donor many
doctors will not work as hard to save their life. “The first priority of a medical professional is to
save lives when sick or injured people come to the hospital.” (ATF, 2014) It is also not true that
people of wealth or power take priority on the waiting list. “Severity of illness, time spent
waiting, blood type, and match potential are the factors that determine your place on the waiting
list. A patient’s income, race and social status are never taken into account in the allocation
process.” (ATF, 2014) Many potential donors believe that if they donate their organs an