A casual conversation with your family might be all it takes to save a life.

That's because people who want to donate their organs when they die must do more than carry a donor card that states you are an organ donor.

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According to the US Health Resources and Services Administration, the vast majority of people in the United States agree that organ donation is something they would choose to do, but when the time comes to do so, only about 50 percent of people do.

A big part of the problem that exists in South Africa too, is that many people don't know the laws.

If someone is brought in to hospital after perhaps an accident, emergency room staff will contact the person’s family to notify them and to get permission to use their organs. So it is vital that your family knows how you feel about donating your organs.

Explain to your family that you would like to donate your organs and by doing this, critical time is saved. If there is written evidence of your wish such as your red donor card, most people will respect your wishes and it makes it easier for them to reach a decision, at a very difficult time.

Thousands of people in South Africa are waiting for life saving organs such as hearts, lungs, kidneys, livers. Skin, bone and corneas can be donated to give hope of an improved quality of life.

Many patients are sent home to die from end-stage kidney failure because there is a shortage of dialysis machines while hundreds of people die waiting for hearts and lungs.

People sometimes worry about being a donor out of the fear that the hospital may jump the gun in pulling the plug, so to speak, to get an organ. In South Africa, two doctors carry out a series of tests independently in order to confirm that a patient is "brain-dead". Brain-stem death usually results because of a severe brain injury that causes all brain activity to stop.

There is also a system where the staff trying to save your life are not the same people who are recovering organs or even caring for a transplant patient who could benefit from an organ donation.

To become an organ donor, send your details to the Organ Donor Foundation which will send you a red donor card, a brochure and a sticker (for your new driving licence or ID document).

And don’t forget to inform your family of your decision.

Should you wish to contact the Organ Donor Foundation office telephonically, dial toll free: 0800 22 66 11.

 

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