Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 4 : Spring 2010 | Page 45

Healthy You:

A Life-Saving Decision
by Kim Jones, Cary Medical Center

Picture a massive sports arena; bigger than
even the biggest NFL stadium. Now imagine it’s filled
with every man, woman, and child who lives in all of
Aroostook County plus the city of Bangor. That would
represent the number of people who are waiting for an
organ transplant in the United States – approximately
105,000 in total. But on an average day, only 77 of those
people will receive the transplant they need to stay alive,
while 18 people will die because there is simply no other
medical treatment available to reverse their organ failure.

In addition to organ transplants, more than
one million people each year have life-enhancing tissue
transplants to repair or replace parts of the body including
corneas, ligaments, heart valves, bone, cartilage, tendons,
and skin. Patients with conditions such as blindness,
burns, birth defects, and tumors have a chance to lead a
healthy, productive life thanks to tissue donation.

The need for organ and tissue donations vastly
exceeds the availability. While 90% of Americans say
they support organ donation, only about 25% of the
U.S. population is actually a registered donor according
to Donate Life America, an alliance of not-for-profit
organizations. “Understandably, it can be difficult to
think about your own death and what will happen
to your body after you die,” said Ann King, RN, New
England Organ Bank liaison at Cary Medical Center.
“This, combined with the many misconceptions there are
about organ donation, can unfortunately result in people
choosing not to become a registered donor.”

But in recent years, there has been a nation-wide
effort to improve donation rates by standardizing the donor
registration process in each state, through informational
campaigns designed to dispel common myths about
organ donation, and through the expansion of donor
registries, particularly in states where none previously
existed. Organizations like Donate Life America have
had a significant impact in the steady increase in organ
donor registrations, especially since the launch of the
Donor Designation Collaborative (DDC) in 2006.

Currently, there are about 80 million people
enrolled in donor registries in the United States compared
to about 70 million just two years ago. And while that is a
significant increase, there is still a shortage of viable organs
because many people in the registry end up not being
good candidates for donating their organs when they die
based on the strict medical criteria for transplantation.
King explains, “A person usually decides to register as an
organ donor when they are healthy. But, over time, they
may be diagnosed with an acute disease or have a serious

accident that changes the condition of their body. They
remain on the donor list, but their organs may no longer
be suitable for transplantation.” It is for this reason that
increasing the number of registered donors is the primary
focus of Donate Life America and similar organizations–
the more people in the registry, the better the chances are
to close the gap between the need and the availability of
donated organs and tissues.

“Becoming an organ donor is a very personal
decision that is best made after discussing it with your
family and becoming familiar with your rights and options
as a donor,” said King, who offers free consultations
through Cary Medical Center for individuals and
families interested in learning more about organ and
tissue donation. “Being informed is the best way to feel
confident about the choice you make.”

Know the Facts

The ideal time to learn about and discuss with your
family the topic of organ donation is now; not during a
time of high emotion and stress, such as when an illness
or injury occurs. To decide whether or not becoming a
donor is right for you, it’s important to know these facts:
How do I become an organ donor?

Almost anyone can be considered as a potential
donor regardless of their age, race, and even medical
history. (The transplant team will determine the viability
of your tissues and organs on an individual basis at the
time of death.) If you choose to become a donor, you
should talk with your family about your decision. In
many states, including Maine, you simply need to check
that you want to be a donor on your driver’s license or
ID card application. Additionally, Maine residents can
enroll through the New England Organ Bank.
What if I change my mind about being a donor?

If you are registered as an organ/tissue donor, you
can remove your name from the donor registry at any
time.
Will my family have to pay
for my organ/tissue removal?

No. The cost of removing your organs/tissue at
the time of your death is covered by the regional organ
donation bank and, when permissible, passed on to the
organ recipient’s insurer.
Can I have an open-casket
funeral if I’ve donated my organs?

SPRING 2010 County Health 43