The importance of awareness of organ donation and the need for more donors
In the United States, more than 114 people are currently waiting for a life-saving organ. Here in New Brunswick, there are 7 people waiting for an organ. However, only 38% of New Brunswickers have made it their decision to be an organ donor in case they need one during their lifetime. This has created a shortage of organs for people waiting for a transplant. Living organ donors and families need to be aware that donating your organs will not only give people the gift of life, but also the gift of knowing that their loved one did the right thing in donating their organs.
What can I do to become an organ donor?
Donors must be between 18 and 70 years old. Donors who are not identified as living donors or their family can register as an organ donor on-line at http://www.doh.org/optout/optout_canada_optout_eng.php#optout_canada_optout_eng.
Where can I get more information about organ donation?
For a donation card or to register as an organ donor, visit the New Brunswick Organ Donor Registry website. The registry is located in the University Hospital’s Life Sciences Building. Don’t forget to tell your family and friends about giving the gift of life by joining the registry.
The Registry Coordinator is: (506) 547-4472 ext 4822 or by email: info@nbord.ca
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: how to become an organ donor in new brunswick
1. Everyone should be aware of the importance and the benefits of organ donation for themselves and for others.
2. Make it your choice to become an organ donor, in case you ever need an organ transplant, or if you have a family member that does.
3. Use this website or ask your doctor or nurse about Organ Donating and register on our national registry: http://www.doh.org/optout/optout_canada_optout_eng.php# – do so 24 hours before your death; please remember that waiting periods may apply in some provinces (or states) in Canada; see http://www.transplantcompass.ca/.
4. Your family members, friends and doctors are important in helping you make the right decision.
5. New Brunswickers: the New Brunswick registry, http://www.nbord.ca/index_e.html is located in the University Hospital’s Life Sciences Building (next to the Cancer Centre) at 60 Princess St., Fredericton, NB E3B 1E9; phone: (506) 453-1060; Fax: (506) 453-5833; email: info@nbord.ca
6. For each person you give the gift of life, the whole community benefits.
7. Organ matching is a very important step in organ transplants and greatly improves transplant survival rates. If a donor and recipient are not a perfect match, they can be “mismatched”. This means that the organs (and sometimes other tissue) may not function as well as they could if they were an exact match (A perfect match produces more usable tissue). 8. Look at these websites too: 1. Canada Transplant website: http://www.transplantcompass.ca/ 2. Canadian Organ Procurement Agency website: http://www.pacificoordinationcentre.com/ 3. United States website: http://www.organdonor.gov/index.html
8. WALK-IN ORGAN DONORS: If you are 16 years of age or older and have capacity to make decisions about organ donation, you can become a walk-in organ donor at any time by signing the back of your health card.
2. To sign up as a recovering living donor in Manitoba the right to understand the possibility of organ donation and to discuss your decision with your family members, friends and/or others before you decide to donate is critical; this includes people who will be donating a kidney or part of their liver while they are still alive (recovering living donors). Therefore, you should NOT sign the back of your health card if you have not discussed this with others.
3. Under Manitoba law, to be a recover living donor you must be at least 19 years of age and meet all of these criteria:
· You are in good health.
· You have had your internal medicine physician assess and confirm that you are able to recover from the surgery (to donate a kidney or part of your liver).
· You have no serious medical conditions that would affect the success of donating a kidney, part of your liver (or other organs) or tissue.
· You and any people who would like to donate with you understand the benefits and risks involved in recovering as a live organ donor.
4. As a recovering living donor, you will be asked to sign an authorization allowing the staff of the transplant centre and related professionals who are involved in your care to discuss with you and your family/friends any information about organ donation. You will have to attend appointments for surgery, to make sure that you are healthy enough for the surgery.
· Your health insurance plan may not cover all of the costs associated with recovering as a live organ donor. This includes filling out forms and attending appointments, travel and living expenses incurred by you or anyone else who wishes to be involved in making this decision (this includes people from other provinces if you decide to travel there).
Conclusion
The government of New Brunswick has a new initiative to increase the number of organ donors over the next five years. In order to achieve this goal, it is important that every individual who is a living donor or a deceased donor’s family members are well informed about what it means to be an organ donor and the role of organ donation.
The New Brunswick Living Organ Donor Registry website provides the general public with important information about organ donation and how New Brunswickers can become organ donors.
• It is important to talk to family and friends about organ donation and join the registry.
• If a registry form has been completed, it should always be with the individual’s other health documents including the back of a donor’s health card.
• It is recommended that everyone consider joining the national Transplantation (Organ) Donor Registry. This will ensure that organs will be donated if you are ever in need of an organ transplant; it is free and takes just a few minutes to register. This can be done on-line through: http://www.doh.org/optout/optout_canada_optout_eng.php# .
