NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH-COLUMBUS, OH - AN ORGAN DONATION

Source: Uweekly

For many of us, it's a decision we make in a couple seconds during a rushed visit to the BMV. But for a complete stranger, the choice could mean life or death.

Organ donation is a difficult subject to discuss. In most cases one is donating because they no longer have a use for their organs. The issue is important to discuss, because having bad information about donation reduces the number of potential donors.

According to June Hinkle, director of family care with the OSU Medical Center, myths and urban legends about donating are the primary reason that college students choose not to donate. "Across the board the number one thing that you hear is 'If I'm in an accident and I end up in the emergency room, they'll want my organs more than they want to save my life,'" she said.

College students maintain generally positive attitudes toward organ donation. "I would say about 85 percent to 90 percent say 'yes' to donation," Hinkle said. However, this number is much higher than those who actually have it on their license. "Only about 65 percent actually had it on their driver's license," she said. "It doesn't mean they don't want to donate; they just don't want it on their driver's license."

"I work in the medical field. Everyone is trying to work their hardest to save people," said Melissa Mikolaj, a junior in microbiology. "They're not trying to screw anyone over."

Rob Sowry, a senior in history, took issue with this line of reasoning. "Are they going to find your wallet first to see if you're an organ donor before they resuscitate you?" he said. "I have a lot of friends that are paramedics. I don't really believe it."

"I was in a car accident before, and I almost died," said Nikhio Arora, a sophomore. "The paramedics worked really hard to keep me alive ... They never checked my ID. They took me right to the hospital."

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services' most recent data, there are more than 106,000 waiting list candidates. The organs that can be donated include the heart, lung, intestine, liver, kidney and pancreas. Tissue can be gathered from other organs as well. By joining the Ohio Donor Registry, an individual can sign up to be a donor and also specify which organ they want to donate.