Organ Donation: A Gift of Hope and Healing

#WorldOrganDonationDay

“Organ donation
is a noble humanitarian act that gives others renewed hope in life and represents the highest meaning of giving, tolerance, and brotherhood, whereby a person consents to donate organs to save another life.”

“Hayat” Together, We Transplant Hope! The Department of Health, Abu Dhabi

Two Different Types of Donors

First, individuals who give one kidney or a part of the liver during life.

Second, for those who donate after death, one person has the potential of giving away eight organs or tissues: Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidneys, corneas, and pancreas.

Living Organ Donors: A Gift to Family Members

Living donors must be legally competent individuals aged at least 21 years. They should unequivocally state that they are donating their organs on their own free will. An authorized medical committee should also confirm that donation will not cause them any damage other than the donating surgery itself.

Donation by living donors is limited to fourth-degree relatives and couples who have been married at least two years. Living donors have the right to withdraw their consent at any moment. However, once a donated organ has been taken, living donors may not regain it.

Donating Organs After Death: A Noble Gift to Save Another Lives

In the scenario of a post-mortem organ donation, the deceased person offers their own organs for transplantation. Donors can help to preserve or improve the lives of patients with inherited illnesses, cancer, heart disease, lung failure, liver or kidney failure, among other conditions.

The donated organs are allocated to eligible patients on a waiting list for a transplant. A computer system and strict standards are in place to ensure ethical and fair distribution of organs. Organs are matched by blood and tissue typing, organ size, medical urgency, waiting time and the distance of transportation of the donated organ.

Postmortal Organ Donation is a Rare Chance

First of all: Healthcare professionals have a duty of care and will make every effort to save your life above all else. If — despite their best efforts — death is inevitable, organ and tissue donation will be considered as end-of-life care discussions start with your loved ones.

Particular requirements must be met before a post-mortem organ donation is possible.

First: Most nations allow organ donation only after a brain death. The most typical causes of such an event include severe bleeding in the brain caused by a ruptured artery, a devastating stroke, or a fatal brain injury.

The irreversible loss of all brain functions of the donor must be proven beyond a doubt. This condition is not like coma or unconsciousness. The brain injury has caused a dissociation from the usual blood flow. As a result, the brain receives no oxygen and is entirely destroyed, with no chance of recovery. Healthcare experts use precise clinical criteria to diagnose brain death, which they document in the patient’s file.

Brain death occurs while the patient is in a neurological or neurosurgical intensive care unit. During the diagnostic process, the patient is still on a ventilator and their heart is still beating. However, because the brain is a key organ responsible for controlling and sustaining other organ functions, circulation and other organs typically fail within hours or days following brain death, despite all measures. During that period, an organ donation might be possible.

Doctors will inform the patient’s loved ones of his or her death. The second requirement for postmortem organ donation is the patient’s consent. This consent can be granted by, for example, signing an organ donation certificate during the donor’s lifetime or registering online as an organ donor.

Postmortal organ donation is a rare event since most people do not die in situations that allow them to donate their organs, and many people do not want to think about their death or make decisions about it. Patients in need of a transplant are forced to wait longer, deteriorate, and, in some cases, die.

What Happens to My Deceased Body When Donating Organs?

A highly qualified expert team is involved in the organ donation procedure, ensuring that donors are handled with the utmost care and respect while their organs and tissue are removed for donation.

Organ retrieval takes place in a normal operating theatre under sterile conditions and is performed by a specialist surgeon. Only the organs and tissue specified by the donor that have been verified functional will be removed. The surgical wound is then gently closed. The body is covered by a dressing in the usual way.

Faith and beliefs will always be respected.

How to Register for Postmortem Organ Donation

Any person in the UAE over the age of 21 and holding an Emirates ID may register his or her desire to donate organs after brain death. After completing registration, the applicant will receive an electronic donor card.

You can register through the “Hayat” organ donation program in two ways:

• Their website on https://mohap.gov.ae/en/services/social/organ-donation
• By downloading the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) mobile application from the iOS store or Google Play store

People of all ages and medical histories may consider themselves potential donors. There is no age limit, and only very few diseases such an advanced cancer excludes the possibility to donate organs. There is no need for a medical check-up before registration as a potential donor, as the medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissue can be donated.

Fact:
Buying or selling organs is illegal. It is a federal felony to give or receive money or any other tangible gift in exchange for a donated organ.

Myths and Facts about Organ Donation

There are a lot of myths and misinformation out regarding organ donation and transplantation. Get some facts instead:

Myth: If I agree to donate my organs, the hospital staff won’t work as hard to save my life.

Fact: When you go to the hospital for treatment, the health care team tries to save your life, not someone else’s. You get the best care you can get.

Myth: Maybe I won’t really be dead when they sign my death certificate.

Fact: This is a popular topic in tabloids. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are sometimes given even more tests to make sure they’re dead than are those who aren’t donating organs. These tests are done at no charge to their families.

Myth: Organ donation is against my faith.

Fact: Most major faiths accept organ donation. These include Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism, most branches of Judaism and most Protestant faiths. Some religions believe organ donation to be an act of charity. If you don’t know where your faith stands on organ donation, ask a member of your clergy.

Myth: I’m too old to donate. Nobody wants my organs.

Fact: There’s no standard cutoff age for donating organs. The decision to use your organs is based on the health of your organs, not age. Let the health care team decide at the time of your death whether your organs and tissues can be transplanted.

Myth: I’m not in the best health. Nobody wants my organs or tissues.

Fact: Very few medical conditions keep you from donating organs. Maybe you can’t donate some organs, but other organs and tissues are fine. Again, let the health care team decide at the time of your death whether your organs and tissues can be transplanted.

Myth: Rich and famous people go to the top of the list when they need a donor organ.

Fact: The rich and famous are treated the same as everyone else when it comes to organ donation. True, famous people might get a lot of press after a transplant. But who they are and how much money they have don’t help them get an organ. A computer system and strict standards ensure fairness.

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