Every day 18 Americans die waiting for organ transplants. Currently there are over 100,000 Americans on the waiting list to receive organs. For these people it is not only their last medical option—it is their last hope.
Though organ donation has always been an important issue, it has recently become a hot topic due to Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg advocating for the cause.
On Tuesday, May 1 he announced that Facebook will now allow all 900 million of its users to register online as organ donors and share the date that they became donors on their timeline. Users are also provided links to organizations where they can sign up to become donors if they are not already.
“We are seeing an immediate spike,” Charlene Zittel, the CEO of Donate Life California, said. “It’s a great day. The reality is we’re saving lives today, and I am so grateful to Mark Zuckerberg for his leadership, for being such a wonderful citizen. This is corporate responsibility.”
There certainly has been a spike in numbers. Since the Tuesday morning announcement, Donate Life California has already reported a 700 percent increase in the number of organ donor sign ups. On a typical day the group receives about 75 online sign ups, but by 11:20 a.m. that Tuesday there were already 416.
Just one person can save eight lives and enhance the lives of 50 others through organ and tissue donation. So why aren’t more people donors?
When asked why he was not an organ donor, USD junior Luke Stager said that if he was ever seriously injured and taken to the hospital, he worried that the doctors caring for him would learn of his status as an organ donor and therefore not do all that they could to save his life since his organs could help so many others.
This is actually a fear that many people share. However, organizations such as Donate Life California are setting the record straight.
“When you’re admitted to the hospital the number one priority is to save your life,” the organization said. “Two doctors not involved in organ donation must declare you brain dead before organ and tissue donation can be considered.”
Still others are unsettled, believing that organ removal for donation would mutilate their body.
Donate Life California addresses this as well, saying “an open casket funeral is possible for organ, eye and tissue donors. The body is treated with dignity, care and respect throughout the entire donation process...all major religions support, or permit organ, eye and tissue donation.”
Read more: http://www.theusdvista.com/opinion/organ-donors-give-the-gift-of-life-1.2871211#.T63ZhhB5mK0
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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