Introduction
I am here to talk about the vital subject of being an organ donor. By this time tomorrow, at least 22 people in the United States who are alive will be dead. In this case, such people will die not because they got involved in a horrible road accident, or they were shot, or even their time on this earth had come to an end, or because they were not in the healthcare facility, but because they could not be offered a life-saving transplant in time.
Estimated 22 individuals die daily in the US because they cannot get a donor to offer to assist them with an organ transplant that they desperately require. In this scenario, money is usually not the case, and so many financially endowed people cannot get a donor to help with a transplant. Therefore, the lack of organ donors in the United States has become a serious cause of death in the United States. Over a hundred thousand Americans are waiting for organ transplants, and over six thousand die annually while waiting for the operation. The need for organ transplants is constantly growing, and so is the essence of donors. People can be selfless and donate such functional body parts.
The Relevance of Being an Organ Donor
I am a major proponent of organ transplants, and I must tell you the relevance of becoming an organ donor. In this regard, I will tell you why it is essential to become a lifesaver by donating an organ from your body, such as a kidney. In addition, this topic is quite sensitive as it directly touches on human lives, and some common myths are associated with the subject. The issue is quite important to me as I believe in a life where everyone where people will save other individuals’ lives. Organ transplants have become a perfect way for people to save or transform other people’s lives (Leunis et al., 2022). Notably, a single organ donor can save an estimated seven lives and assist many others through tissue and eye transplants. Some donors and their families agree to donate their tissue and organs after death.
It is relevant for me to talk about specific organs that could be donated, including the bowel, pancreas, liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart. For example, the heart is one of the essential organs in the ‘human body because it is responsible for pumping blood to every area’ (Leunis et al., 2022). It is also critical to note that it is impossible to store organs, and they must be transplanted as quickly as possible. For example, one could donate a partial kidney, skin tissue, bone marrow, intestine, pancreas, and partial lung.
For families, patients, and friends waiting for organ transplants, tissue and organ donation can mean the difference between death and life. It is possible for a single donor to various organs after death (Alsalem et al., 2020). Being a living donor is a selfless way that people can use to save the lives of individuals who desperately need organ transplants.
There is a need for people willing to donate to talk to their families because, before any progress is made, the doctor will need the family’s consent. Therefore, it is not helpful for such willing donors to hide what they are doing from their families, as the doctor must notify them. The present donation on the family and the deceased’s consent to tissue and organ transplant donation from the dead is a relevant win.
The successful transplant also depends on the deceased’s consent to organ donation. To increase the availability of organs, various policymakers need to have the right strategies with evidence that aim to identify the best practices for getting consent. It is also critical to point out that obtaining consent has not been easy, as many families refuse to allow organ donation.
I want to persuade you as my audience to donate your tissues and organs when you die and to act upon your decision to grant. There is a constant growth in the need for organ donors, and individuals need to be selfless enough to take part in donating such body parts, particularly when they die (Hansen et al., 2020). An individual patiently waits for an organ transplant, maybe someone you know, a friend, or a companion.
Today, I am passionately talking to you regarding this issue because I have realized the need for organ donors globally as they save lives. Therefore, people should become organ donors when they die as organ donor recipients, and their families benefit from such a donation. Although the lack of organ donors has been a significant issue of concern globally, people can change the situation by helping those in need as a gift of life.
Addressing Counterarguments
Some common myths associated with organ transplants make many people oppose such an initiative. Opponents of organ transplants argue that sick or injured people who are also admitted to the hospital have the number one priority of saving their own lives. Therefore, such opposers say that it would be ill-advised for sick people to start donating organs even before they get well or recover from what took them to the hospital (Habib et al., 2021). According to the organ transplantation and procurement network, donating an organ can only take place after a doctor declares the death of a human brain to pave the way for the transplant.
Another myth is that the doctors will interfere with the dead body, making the person not look the same when buried. However, the doctors are careful and professional people who will carefully have small incisions similar to surgical operations on normal people. It is only a small scar that is easily identified that is left.
Conclusion
As I conclude on this vital subject, another myth is that the American rich and famous on the waiting list will get preferential treatment for such organ transplants. Therefore, the misconception is not true, and it is only meant to scare people and prevent them from donating organs to people in need. Researchers have often stated that computerized matching processes do not select recipients or beneficiaries because of wealth and fame. It is relevant to note that organs are matched by tissue type, blood group, geographical location, waiting time, medical urgency, and organ size (Hansen et al., 2020).
There is another misconception that organ transplant is a taboo and against many religious beliefs. However, all major denominations or religious groups support tissue and organ donation because they see it as charity. Thus, people must be selfless and generous enough to donate their organs in life or death to those who may be needy.
References
Alsalem, A., Weaven, S., & Thaichon, P. (2020). Theoretical insights into organ donation and Social Change. Contributions to Management Science, 149–166. Web.
Habib, R., White, K., & Hoegg, J. A. (2021). Everybody thinks we should but nobody does: How combined injunctive and descriptive norms motivate organ donor registration. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 31(3), 621–630. Web.
Hansen, S. L., Pfaller, L., & Schicktanz, S. (2020). Critical Analysis of Communication Strategies in Public Health Promotion: An empirical‐ethical study on organ donation in Germany. Bioethics, 35(2), 161–172. Web.
Leunis, S., Vandecruys, M., Cornelissen, V., Van Craenenbroeck, A. H., De Geest, S., Monbaliu, D., & De Smet, S. (2022). Physical activity behaviour in solid organ transplant recipients: Proposal of theory-driven physical activity interventions. Kidney and Dialysis, 2(2), 298–329. Web.