Organ Donation - Essay 4
Tia Beach
WRT 150 11
21 April 2010
A Decision that could Save Lives
More than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ in the United States alone. “Unfortunately, the number of donors is nowhere near that figure, only about 14,000 people (living and dead) donated organs” (Egendorf). These people could die at any time as they are waiting for a miracle to happen. What happens if you or one of your loved ones needs an organ transplant? Wouldn’t you want someone to donate their organs so you could have a second chance at life? My mom’s sister needed a kidney transplant in order to live because hers was destroyed from all the years of smoking. My mom decided to donate her kidney to her sister so she could have another chance at life. More people need to donate because they would make a huge difference in the world. It can be hard to think about what’s going to happen to your body after you die, let alone donating your organs and tissue. Being an organ donor is a generous and worthwhile decision that can be a lifesaver. There are some myths that might keep people from donating. One of these are that people think that if you have a check mark on the back of your driver’s license, then the doctors might not try as hard to save your life. Some people might choose not to be an organ donor just because they are scared that this might happen. If you sign a donor card, it will not affect the care you receive at the hospital. According to the American Heart Association, “If you are injured and brought to an emergency room, you will receive the best possible care, whether or not you are an organ donor.” According to Lisa Stevens, “The list is growing rapidly in the United States alone; a new name is added to the transplant waiting list every 16 minutes” (244). This should be reason enough for individuals to donate, but this isn’t the case, otherwise we wouldn’t have a waiting list this large. Organ and tissue transplantation is proven to extend and enhance lives. Medical
WRT 150 11
21 April 2010
A Decision that could Save Lives
More than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ in the United States alone. “Unfortunately, the number of donors is nowhere near that figure, only about 14,000 people (living and dead) donated organs” (Egendorf). These people could die at any time as they are waiting for a miracle to happen. What happens if you or one of your loved ones needs an organ transplant? Wouldn’t you want someone to donate their organs so you could have a second chance at life? My mom’s sister needed a kidney transplant in order to live because hers was destroyed from all the years of smoking. My mom decided to donate her kidney to her sister so she could have another chance at life. More people need to donate because they would make a huge difference in the world. It can be hard to think about what’s going to happen to your body after you die, let alone donating your organs and tissue. Being an organ donor is a generous and worthwhile decision that can be a lifesaver. There are some myths that might keep people from donating. One of these are that people think that if you have a check mark on the back of your driver’s license, then the doctors might not try as hard to save your life. Some people might choose not to be an organ donor just because they are scared that this might happen. If you sign a donor card, it will not affect the care you receive at the hospital. According to the American Heart Association, “If you are injured and brought to an emergency room, you will receive the best possible care, whether or not you are an organ donor.” According to Lisa Stevens, “The list is growing rapidly in the United States alone; a new name is added to the transplant waiting list every 16 minutes” (244). This should be reason enough for individuals to donate, but this isn’t the case, otherwise we wouldn’t have a waiting list this large. Organ and tissue transplantation is proven to extend and enhance lives. Medical
Cited: Friedman, E.A., and A.L. Friedman. “Payment for Donor Kidneys: Pros and Cons.” Kidney International 69.6 (2006): 960-962 Howard, Doreen G. “Become an Organ Donor.” Woman’s Day 58.4 (1995): 27. Academic Search Premier Stevens, Lisa M. “Organ Donation.” Jama: Journal of the American Medical Association 299.2 (2008): 244