Human has 5 senses – Vision, Hearing, Smell, Taste and Touch. Suppose just for few minutes if any one of these senses stopped working then we will feel like paralyzed. In the same way just imagine the people who doesn’t have organ like a normal person then how that person must be feeling. It is absolutely a painful suffering and miserable life. I want to write this article to create awareness for “Organ Donation”.
Such kind of donation can give a new life or new purpose to live for any handicapped person.
What is “Organ Donation”?
Organ Donation is a process where a person pledges during his/her lifetime that after death, single or multiple organs from the body can be used for transplantation to help needy patients.
Why “Organ Donation”?
I want to quote words said by Shankaracharya – “This body is for the use of others.”
The most Noble Cause is to give our any body part after death to someone who is in dire need.
There is a huge shortage of organs due to which thousands of lives meet to death. Please if we can increase the number of Organ Donors then we could save the lives of needy people.
The highest number of patients diagnosed with Kidney failures and due to shortage of donors the transplants could not get possible. This is the problem with other organs also so if we could come forward then it could be a great help.
Organs which we can donate:
- Internal Organs like Kidneys, Heart, Liver, Pancreas, Intestines, Lungs
- Cornea (Eyes)
- Bone Marrow
- Skin
Eye and Kidney donations are common but some examples are there for Heart Transplants, it actually gave a new life to people who lost all hopes but due to the feeling of Donation the hope of life rejuvenated.
Legal Laws for Organ Donation
Organ donations are legal by Indian law. The Indian government enacted the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994, which allows organ donation, and legalized the concept of ‘Brain Death’. Brain Death Certificate is must for Organ Donation.
Brain Death:
Brain death is the irreversible and permanent cessation of all brain functions. In situations of brain death, a person cannot sustain his own life, but vital body functions may be maintained in an ‘intensive care unit’ for a short period of time. Such persons are kept on artificial support to maintain oxygenation of organs so that the organs are in a healthy condition until they are removed. Organs of such patients can be transplanted to terminally ill patients.
Documents Required:
The donor needs to fill a prescribed consent form, which can be accessed from two sources –
- Website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India – http://mohfw.nic.in/
- Medical facility providers approached for organ removal
A written consent form from the lawful custodian of the body after the death of the patient in a prescribed application form.
The potential donor can also approach organ donation agencies for a donor card. Although not legally binding, the donor card is a means of expressing ones willingness to donate kidneys and make family more understanding towards the cause.
Points to Remember:
- A panel of four doctors needs to declare brain stem death twice in a time frame of six hours. These are: the medical administrators in-charge of the hospital, an authorized specialist, a neurologist/neurosurgeon and the medical officer treating patient.
- Healthy organs should be transplanted as soon as possible from the donor to the recipient.
- The authority to give consent for organ donation lies with the person lawfully in possession of the dead body.
- If you are minor under age 18, then your parent or guardian must give you permission to become a donor.
- There is neither charge nor payment made on account of organ donation.
Initiative
I took this initiative to create awareness for Organ Donation and I myself donated my eyes and going to donate Kidneys and other organs soon. It is quite similar like Blood Donation, we have many Blood Banks available in the same way there are Eye Banks also available. Those who wish to donate their organs I am providing some contact numbers.
For Delhi & Mumbai residents (MTNL users), India:
- Information service on Eye Bank is 1919
- Information service on Blood Bank is 1910
I did my Eye Donation through Lions Club, Cooper Hospital, Vile Parle, Mumbai.
The contact number is 022-26207254/58
Eye Banks available across India, all contact numbers are in this link – http://www.myeyeworld.com/files/eyebanks.htm
For other organs you all can take help from online donor agencies. But please check and confirm the authenticity of that organization/agency because the Illegal Organ’s Business is prevalent in all cities.
Recently I donated my “Bone Marrow”, please come forward because in India Marrow Donors are very very few.
I hope and wish this initiative will save many lives. Let us come forward and reduce the Pain & Bring Smile.
Thank You!
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