Myth: When you’re waiting for a transplant, your financial status or celebrity status is as important as your medical status.
Fact:
When you are on the transplant waiting list for a donor organ, patients are prioritized by the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type and other important medical information.
Myth: Having "organ donor" noted on your driver's license or carrying a donor card is all you have to do to become a donor.
Fact:
While a signed donor card and a driver's license with an "organ donor" designation are legal documents, organ and tissue donation is always discussed with family members prior to the donation. To ensure that your family understands your wishes, it is important that you share your decision to donate life.
Myth: I am 60 years old. I am too old to be a donor.
Fact:
People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential donors. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissue can be donated.
Myth: My family will be charged for donating my organs.
Fact:
There is no cost to the donor's family or estate for organ and tissue donation. Funeral costs remain the responsibility of the family.
Myth: I will not be able to have an open casket at my funeral if I choose to donate my organs.
Fact:
Donated organs are removed surgically in a routine operation similar to gallbladder or appendix removal. Donation doesn't disfigure the body or change the way it looks in a casket.
Myth: If I am in an accident and the hospital knows I'm an organ donor or that I want to be a donor, the emergency room doctors will not try to save my life.
Fact:
If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. The medical team treating you is completely separate from the transplant team. The organ procurement organization (OPO) is not notified until all lifesaving efforts have failed and death has been determined. The OPO does not notify the transplant team until your family has consented to donation.
Myth: Only heart, liver and kidneys can be transplanted.
Fact:
Needed solid organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines as well as bone marrow. Tissue that can be donated include the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves and tendons.
Myth: I have a history of medical illness. You would not want my organs or tissues.
Fact:
At the time of death, the appropriate medical professionals will review your medical and social histories to determine whether or not you can be a donor. With recent advances in transplantation, many more people than ever before can be donors. It's best to sign a donor card and tell your family your wishes.
Myth: I don't need to tell my family that I want to be a donor because I have it written in my will.
Fact:
By the time your will is read, it will be too late to recover your organs. Telling your family now that you want to be an organ and tissue donor is the best way to ensure that your wishes are carried out.
Myth: I might want to only donate one or some of my organs, but I don't want to donate everything.
Fact:
You may specify what organs may be donated. Your wishes will be followed.
