Donate Life: An Overview Of Organ, Tissue And Eye Donation

For Driver’s Education Classes

Updated September 2015

Why is organ, tissue and eye

donation so important?

Kelly Nachreiner LawWisconsin Act 124

Organ donor on January 4, 2000 Saved 3 lives!

Kelly registered as a donor at the DMV when she was 16

She died 4 weeks after receiving her driver’s license

Governor Tommy Thompson signed the law on May 5, 2000

The law is an educational mandate providing 30 minutes of instruction on organ, tissue and eye donation in driver’s education classes

The first law of its kind in the U.S; now 17 states have similar mandates

The number of registered teens in Wisconsin increased 20% since the law was enacted!

Why Is Organ Donation A Driver’s Education Topic?

The National Need for Organ Transplants Is Real!

123,000 people waiting

on average

2,000 are children

17 or younger

22 people on the waiting list die

each day

Every 10 minutes someone is

added to the list

The National Organ Transplant Waiting List Type of Transplant

KidneyLiverHeartKidney/PancreasLungPancreasIntestineHeart/Lung

Total Patients Waiting

In the U.S.

101,199 15,108 4,200 1,950 1,534 1,045 257 46

122,466*

* Totals are less than the sums due to patients included in multiple categories. For the most up-to-date numbers visit: http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/Source: Organ Procurement and Transplant Network Data: 9/11/2015

In Wisconsin

1,906 319 89 42 24 14 1 0

2,324*

The National Organ Transplant Waiting ListPeople waiting for an organ transplant are listed by their transplant center on the national organ transplant waiting list maintained by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)The national United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list is monitored by the federal government

The UNOS waiting list is updated minute-by-minute—with new names added and the names of those transplanted or deceased removed

Organs are given to the patients who are highest on the list and meet the requirements for successful transplant: blood type tissue type body size other criteria

Understand that organ donation is considered only after all efforts to save a patient’s life have been exhausted by the hospital medical team

There are individuals of all ages, genders, and ethnicities on the UNOS waiting list

The National Organ Transplant Challenge

Based upon OPTN 2014 year-end data provided on 08/20/2015.

In 2015 – the waiting list averages 123,000

National Average Waiting Time By Organ*Heart: 3.8 months or 113 days

Lungs: 4.7 months or 141 days

Liver: 1 year or 361 days

Kidney: 3 years, 3 months or 1,219 days

Pancreas: 8.6 months or 260 days

Small Intestines: 5.3 months or 159 days

*U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2012

Why Is It Important To Register As A Donor?Fewer than 5% of people die in a

hospital on a mechanical ventilator in a manner that allows for the potential of

organ donation

As a result, there are not enough donors for those on the national organ

transplant waiting list

A registered donor provides a first person legal authorization for organ,

tissue and eye donation for transplant, research and education

All Types Of Donors Are Needed

Organ and tissue transplants are needed by all ethnic groups from every area of our nation

The need for transplants in some ethnic groups, however, is disproportionately high, due to a higher incidence of health conditions that can lead to the need for a kidney

transplant

African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans are 3 times more likely than Caucasians to suffer from kidney

disease and failure, as well as liver diseases

All those waiting for an organ transplant have a better chance of receiving a transplant when there is a large number of donors from their racial/ethnic background

Together, we can save people like these who are thankful organ

recipients!

. . . and can save and enhance more than 50 lives through the lifesaving and

healing gifts of tissue donation

Which Organs and Tissues Can Be Donated?Eight Organs

• Heart• Lungs (2)• Liver• Kidneys (2)• Small Intestines• Pancreas

Tissues• Corneas• Tendons & Ligaments• Heart Valves• Veins• Skin• Bones

Donor Alliance Infographic

Tissue and Eye (Cornea) Donations

Each year, more than 1 million

lifesaving and life-improving tissue

and corneal transplants are

performed in the U.S.!

Differences Between Organ Donation and Tissue and Eye Donation

Organ Donation• Organs may only be

recovered if a patient dies in a hospital while on a mechanical ventilator (which occurs in fewer than 5% of all deaths)

• Organs must be properly preserved and quickly transplanted

• Organ transplantation is a life-saving procedure.

Tissue and Eye Donation

• Recovery occurs within the first 24 hours after the heart stops beating

• Immediate transplantation is not necessary – tissues can be preserved for use at a later date

• Tissue donation is mainly a life-improving procedure. It can allow people to live pain free with increased mobility or gain sight.

Wisconsin Donor Registry: YesIWillWisconsin.comLaunched on March 29, 2010—all those who received their donor dot on a driver’s license or state I.D. after this date are registered. Please inform your parent’s or guardian about the online registry if they received or renewed their license prior to March 2010

Provides a secure, online portal for Wisconsin residents aged 15½ years and older to legally register their donation decision

The only legal (first person) organ, tissue and eye donation authorization for those 18 and older that family is unable to overrule

Minors under 18 years of age may still have their registration online overruled by their family

The registry saves lives! People document their donation decision and donation professionals have real-time access to those decisions, which saves valuable time.

Wisconsin Donor Registry State “Yes” Percentages

There are still opportunities to encourage your family and friends to register!

57%

43%

YesNo

How Can Registering As A Donor Affect Me?First, each of us can become ill or injured at any time and a transplanted organ or tissue would be part of the treatment.

Second, consider if you had a family member or friend who suffered with one of these …• end stage organ failure• severe burns over a large percentage of their body• bone cancer and limb amputation was discussed• cornea damage and is legally blind

Wouldn’t you want the “gift of hope” with an organ, tissue or corneal transplant to be available for those in need?

Facts for Common Donation Questions

Who can be a donor?

• Anyone can register

• Age is not a barrier

• Donation professionals review a patient’s medical record & social history to determine eligibility

Will doctors try to save me?

• Doctors and medical teams will do all they can to save your life

• Donation only occurs after a patient is declared dead

Who decides if I become a donor?

• You legally authorize first person consent when you register on your state’s online registry, the national registry, or at the DMV

• When your decision isn’t documented in a state or national online registry your next-of-kin decides

Facts for Common Donation Questions

Does donation disfigure the body?

• Open casket funerals can occur following donation

• Organs are removed during a surgical procedure in an operating room

• Areas where tissue donation occur are reconstructed and concealed by clothing

Does donation delay a funeral?

• The act of donation does not cause untimely delays for the funeral

• The recovering agency ensures that the donor’s body is released to the funeral home on time

Is there a cost for donation to the donor or their family?

• If you’re a donor your family does not pay any bills or costs related to donation

• Your family does pay the cost of funeral expenses

Facts for Common Donation Questions

If I have a previous medical condition may I still donate?

• Yes, you may still be able to donate

• Transplant professionals evaluate the condition of your organs at the time of death, determining if they are suitable for organ donation

Are organs transplanted locally?

• Yes, when there are local or regional recipients who match the organ

• Approximately 85% - 90% of all organs donated in Wisconsin are used for transplant in Wisconsin

Do the wealthy orcelebrities get priority for a transplant?

• The national system ensures that a donor is matched with the best possible recipient with the most medical need who has been waiting longer.

• Race, gender, age, financial or celebrity status are not factors in determining recipients

Donation Facts for Common Questions

Can you legally pay someone to donate an organ in the U.S?

• Federal law prohibits the purchase and sale of organs for transplantation in the U.S.

• The national system matching donor organs to recipients is regulated by the Federal Government

Are the donor family and recipients able to meet?

• Initial contacts are coordinated by the recovery organization to protect the confidentiality of the donor, donor family and recipients

• Meetings can be arranged if both parties sign a consent form to release their contact information

What is the success rate for organ and tissue donation?

• The success rate for transplanted organs is 80 – 90% depending upon the type of organ and the type of donor (living or deceased)

• Cornea transplant procedures experience a 95% success rate

What Can I Do Now?. . . The Three D’s

It’s important to discuss your wishes with your family and friends. When you support donation and register as an organ donor you want to be sure that they’re aware of your decision.

DECIDE DOCUMENT DISCUSSRegister at the DMV

or online @ yesiwillwisconsin.com

ensuring that your decision is legally recorded on Wisconsin’s

Donor Registry

Talk to your family about your decision to be a donor

—until you turn 18 your family can overrule your

donation decision

Get the facts, get your questions answered and make an informed decision.

What registered donors do makes a difference…

…and lives are changed forever!