Date: February 23, 2022

7 FAQs about Organ Donation and Transplantation

Organ transplants are usually overlooked by the majority of citizens. The entire task may seem daunting for many who aren’t learned about organ and tissue transplantation. Many people might ask about organ donation, only to be ignored or become misinformed through a bad source, opening the doors to a wormhole of myths.

If you’ve got questions about organ transplants or maybe even India’s best fundraising foundation, this article is here to enlighten you. Today, we’ve curated 7 of the most frequently asked questions regarding organ donation.

Question No.1: Am I eligible for being an Organ Donor?

If you’ve reached the age of 18 and are willing to donate your organ, then you’re eligible for being an organ donor. The minimum requirement for being an organ donor is to be an adult and voluntarily decisive about the donation idea. there are, of course, tests that are taken before your organ is removed to ensure that the organ(s) and tissue(s) you are donating are indeed healthy, functional, and suitable to be given to a patient.

In addition, a person having a medical history of serious illness or infectious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, HIV, kidney, or heart disease will not qualify for donation. This is because these diseases can harm the donor if they donate organs. Also, doctors make sure that the donor can continue their life without any complications or adverse effects on their bodies after the organ and tissue transplantation surgery.

Question No.2: Which organs are donated the most?

Organs are mainly divided into two types; single and paired organs. Single organs are mainly taken by donors who have passed away, and paired are organs donated by living donors. In most cases, paired organs are easier to obtain than single organs.
The most common organs donated are the heart, kidneys, and liver. The heart can only be taken from a person once they are no longer alive, making the supply of a heart quite scarce, raising its demand and price.

However, transplant fundraising organizations exist that help the needy gather funds for the required organ and its surgical surgery procedures. Another interesting point is that you can also donate your tissues in cases where a patient has burned a part of their body.

Question No.3: What kind of tests are performed before confirming the eligibility of a person donating an organ?

To ensure a good quality lifestyle for the donor and the receiver, doctors subject the donor to certain tests depending on the organ they are donating. They further examine whether conducting an organ and tissue transplantation is suitable for the patient.

This is done by checking the donor’s medical history. Suppose the donor has a precarious medical issue that he/she is currently struggling with. In that case, the doctor will not approve of the donor, and another candidate will be considered for the required organ. For instance, take a scenario of kidney requirement. The donor will volunteer to give his/her kidney, after which the doctor will test them and look at two main factors; functioning of the kidney and any potential health issues the donor may face if a transplant is carried out.

Question No.4: What about the recipient once they receive the organ?

If a patient applies to get a new organ and successfully manages to do so, they need to be careful with a few things. The first and foremost is to follow a healthy lifestyle. There is a chance that the patient’s body may not accept the donated organ. This situation is also known as organ rejection.

If a patient does encounter this problem, they need to be on immuno-suppressants to ensure the safety of the organ. Last but not least, the patient should follow a healthy diet to maintain strong immunity and stay clear of potential diseases such as diabetes.

Question No.5: Can only people of a certain age donate organs?

No, in the case of organ transplants, there is an age barrier or limit to donating one’s organs. There have been successful transplants made by a six-week-old baby and a 95-year-old man. This proves that any individual having a healthy body with no serious medical history of diseases can actively participate in organ and tissue transplantation. The main criteria for an organ transplant are that the donor organ should be medically accepted by doctors and should match the recipient’s patient.

Question No.6: What does match organ mean?

A very critical analysis of the donated organ includes its thorough examination to determine if the organ can be transplanted or not. These tests include, for example, blood type tests, HLA, and cross-match testing. The blood type test is one of the first and primary evaluations doctors do to check if the donor organ matches the recipient or not. At the same time, the HLA test which stands for human leukocyte antigen is to determine if the recipient body has any antigen for the donor. If yes, then the chances of rejection will be higher, and thus, the donor organ offer has to be declined.

When a patient gets a donor organ, doctors assess and try to choose an organ that matches the maximum It increases the success rate of the surgery and the chances of the recipient body accepting the organ transplant. Overall, organ and tissue transplantation requires the donor organ to match the patient before the surgery is approved and performed.

Question No. 7: Can someone donate organs to their family members or friends?

Yes, if a person’s friend or family member requires organ transplants, one can do so. This type of donation is termed a designated donation. Regardless, if the donor is unable to match the recipient, they can opt for a paired exchange.

Conclusion

To conclude, organ transplantation is a detailed procedure followed by various tests and examinations conducted on both the donor and recipient. The team of doctors monitors both the recipient and donor to check how their bodies are responding to the transplant. Moreover, several transplant fundraising organizations and NGOs help patients get funding for their transplantation surgery.