healthquiz
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Have you ever wanted to save or improve someone's life? You can – by becoming an organ, eye and tissue donor.
The need for donated organs continues to rise every year – yet there is still a shortage of organs for transplantation in the United States.
Public education efforts are vital in helping people make the decision to become donors. But despite those efforts, misconceptions and inaccuracies about donation still exist.
LifeShare Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma has the answers to some questions that you may have regarding organ and tissue donation.
Q. If emergency room doctors know I'm an
organ donor,
will they work as hard to save me?
A. If you are admitted to the hospital, the
number one priority is to save your life.
Organ donation is considered only after a
physician has declared brain death (total and
irreversible loss of brain function, including
the brain stem). Oklahoma legislation allows
individuals to legally designate their wish to
be a donor should brain death occur.
Q.Where can I sign up to be a donor?
A. Sign up at your local tag agency or
the Department of Public Safety (DPS)
when you get your driver's license or state
ID card. You also can sign up online at
www.lifeshareregistry.org, or if you don't
have Internet access, call
Q. Does my family have to pay for organ donation?
A. No. Once a physician pronounces you
brain dead and appropriate medical professionals
review your case for organ donation,
LifeShare Transplant Donor Services of
Oklahoma pays for all procedures, tests or
evaluations needed for donation. Funeral
costs remain your family's responsibility.
Q. Can my family override my wish to be a donor?
A. Oklahoma's First Person Consent Law
makes it unnecessary to get permission from
the family if a person has expressed his or her
desire to be a donor in a "document of gift,"
such as a driver's license, state ID card, donor
card or enrollment in Oklahoma's online
LifeShare donor registry.We strongly believe
that a person's wish to donate must be honored,
if medically possible. Organ and tissue
recovery coordinators will talk to the family
about the donation before it takes place.
Oklahomans are urged to share their decision
to be a donor with their families.
If you are younger than 18, you may declare your intent to be a donor in any document of gift. However, parent or guardian permission must be obtained before donation can take place.
For the answers to other questions regarding
organ and tissue donation, please contact
LifeShare Transplant Donor Services of
Oklahoma at
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Becoming a donor has never been more important. During Decision Week in November, medical staff from INTEGRIS Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute will be available to give you one-on-one information about organ and tissue donation.
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INTEGRIS Health 3300 N.W. Expressway, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 (405) 949-3011 | HealthLine: (888) 951-2277 |
