Donate Life
An Introduction to
Organ and Tissue Donation
Donate Life
Richmond Partnership
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
Donate Life America
LifeNet Health
Old Dominion Eye Foundation
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Rumor Has It…
• Currently, there are • True. There are
more than 116,000
more than 116,000
patients awaiting an
patients in need of
organ transplant in
an organ right now.
the United States.
Someone is added
to the national
waiting list every 13
minutes.
Rumor Has It…
• If I am admitted to
the hospital and
there is a heart on
my driver’s license
they will not
attempt to save my
life or will take my
organs before I am
really dead.
• False. Medical
professionals will do
everything they can
to save your life.
The doctors who
work to save your
life are not the same
doctors involved
with organ
donation.
Rumor Has It…
• The more famous
and rich you are,
the sooner you
will receive an
organ for
transplantation.
• False. The patient
that receives a
transplant is the
one who is most in
need and has the
best chance of not
rejecting the
organ.
Rumor Has It…
• A person can
recover from brain
death with proper
medical
treatment.
• False. Brain death is
death. No medical
treatment can reverse
brain death. When all
brain activity has
ceased, breathing and
heart function can no
longer continue
independently.
Rumor Has It…
• Most major
religions oppose
organ and tissue
donation.
• False. Leading
members of all
major religious
organizations
support organ
donation as a
virtuous and
charitable act.
Rumor Has It…
• I have a signed donor
card in my wallet and
my decision is in my
will, so I don’t need to
do anything else to
declare my decision to
donate.
• False, there are two
ways you can legally
declare your decision to
donate—at the DMV on
your drivers license or
visiting our online
registry
DonateLifeVirginia.org
Organ and Tissue Donation Works
• The organ and tissue donation process can
save or greatly enhance lives
• Transplant survival rates keep increasing
• Recipients go on to live normal, healthy lives
The Need
• More than 116,000 patients are on the
waiting list nationwide
• More than 3,000 of these are Virginians.
• Sadly, about 18 patients die daily and a
Virginian dies every other day waiting for a
life-saving organ.
Who can be an organ and tissue
donor?
• Everyone should consider themselves a
potential donor.
• Your medical condition will be evaluated at
the time of death to determine what can be
donated.
Organ Transplantation
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Heart
Lung (2)
Kidney (2)
Pancreas
Liver (2 parts)
Intestine
• A kidney and a portion of the liver can be
donated by a living individual as well
Brain Death
• The complete and irreversible cessation of all
functions of the brain.
• Brain death is death. It is NOT the same as
being in a coma.
• Specialized physicians complete complex
testing to declare brain death.
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Conditions that Cause
Brain Death
Brain aneurysm
Stroke
Head trauma from motor vehicle accidents
Fall
Gunshot wound
Drug Overdose
Drowning
Poisoning
Tissue Transplantation
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Blood vessels and heart valves
Bone
Corneas and sclera
Pericardium
Fascia
Cartilage
Skin
Donation Process
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Accident or illness
Transport
Emergency room
Intensive care unit
Identification of impending brain death – or
cardiac death declared
• Referral and evaluation
Donation Process Continued
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Donor designation
Family medical social interview
Organ placement
Organ and tissue recovery
Funeral arrangements
Follow-up
Matching Donors and Recipients
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Blood type
Tissue type
Body size
Length of time on the waiting list
Severity of illness
Geographical location
How to Sign Up
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Visit www.DonateLifeVirginia.org.
Fill out the paper application.
Designate decision at DMV.
Share your decision with your family.
www.DonateLifeVirginia.org