| Myth |
Reality |
| "I heard about this guy
who went to a party and woke up the next morning in a bathtub full of
ice. His kidneys were stolen for sale on the black market!" |
There is no documented case of
this ever happening. Period. First, it is illegal to buy and sell organs
in Canada. "Law prohibits the sale of human organs. Second, due to
the complexity of transplantation, piracy is practically impossible. The
process of matching donors with recipients, the need for highly skilled
medical professionals to perform the surgery, and the need for modern
medical facilities and support necessary for transplantation make it
highly unlikely that this system could be duplicated in secrecy."
References: HRSA, UNOS |
| "Rich and famous people
get moved to the top of the waiting list, while 'regular' people have to
wait a long time for a transplant." |
The organ allocation and
distribution system is blind to wealth or social status. "The
length of time it takes to receive a transplant is governed by many
factors, including blood type, length of time on the waiting list,
severity of illness and other medical criteria. Factors such as race,
gender, age, income or celebrity status are never considered when
determining who receives an
organ."
Reference: UNOS |
| "If I'm in an accident
and the hospital knows I want to be a donor, the doctors won't try to
save my life!" |
The medical team treating you
is separate from the transplant team. The organ procurement organization
(OPO) is not notified until all lifesaving efforts have failed and death
has been determined. The OPO does not notify the transplant team until
your family has consented to donation. |
| "My religion does not
approve of donation." |
All organized religious
support donation, typically considering it a generous act that is the
individual's choice. |
| "If I donate, I would
worry that the recipient and/or the recipient's family would discover my
identity and cause more grief for my family." |
Information about the donor is
released by the OPO to the recipients only if the family that donated
requests that it be provided. |
| "I have a history of
medical illness. You would not want my organs or tissue." |
At the time of death, the OPO
will review medical and social histories to determine donor suitability
on a case-by-case basis. |
| "I am not the right age
for donation." |
Age limits for organ donation
no longer exist; however, the general age limit for tissue donation is
70. Organs may be donated from someone as young as a newborn. |
| "I heard that they take
everything, even if I only want to donate my eyes." |
You may specify which organs
you want donated. Your wishes will be followed. |
| "Organ and tissue
donation means my body will be mutilated and treated badly." |
Donated organs are removed
surgically, in a routine operation similar to gall bladder or appendix
removal. Donation doesn't disfigure the body or change the way it looks
in a casket. Normal funeral arrangements are possible. |
