Organ donations

Along with the up-gradation in technology, a lot of diseases and infections have also been increasing. Diseases such as cystic fibrosis, polycystic kidney disease, terminal lung illness, heart failure, irreversible liver cancer, etc. are the reason because of which the organs become weak as days pass. It ultimately leads to organ failure, in some cases. In addition, organs are damaged due to certain infections like hepatitis or injuries to the abdomen or organs. The severe pain and suffering caused by such diseases are unbearable and it becomes problematic to carry on with the daily routine. A stage comes when the patient has to fight for life. It feels like hanging in between life and death.
Just step into the shoe of such people, and you'll be able to feel that how helpless they become in that situation. They are helpless but you are not. Wouldn’t you wish to be an angel for them? You have the power to save a life, by just donating an organ. What is the purpose of having a power that you don't use? Go for it.
But before you get ready for the transplantation (whether you are a donor or the recipient), you need to understand a few things about organ and tissue transplantation.
Transplantation of Tissues and organs
The process of surgically removing and replacing, an organ or tissue, from one body to another is known as organ and tissue transplantation. An organ can be donated both by a living as well as brain dead individual. There are only a few organs can be donated after a natural cardiac death but there are around 37 organs and tissues that are capable enough to be donated after a brain stem death comprising vital organs such as heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs.
Organ transplant organisation
The organisation which regulates the transplantation process is NATIONAL ORGAN & TISSUE TRANSPLANT ORGANISATION (NOTTO). It is a national level organization under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
Steps to get organ or tissue transplantation done:
1) If you want to be a donor, then you have to register yourself by filling up a pledge form. This can either be done online or at the hospital by showing interest in this voluntary process. Once the registration is done, you will receive a donor card. However, obtaining this card it is not legally binding on the donor and the final decision of whether to donate or not is a collective decision with the family members. Another kind of donation( deceased donation) may take place if the patient is declared brain dead, which means that there has been complete damage of all brain functions and the condition is irreversible.
2) A series of tests are conducted twice in the duration of 4-6 hours, by a team of hospital doctors and a civil doctor to ensure that the patient is brain dead. If no stimuli are observed then a death certificate is issued.
3) After the issuance of the death certificate the doctor informs the family about the organs which are healthy enough to be donated.
However, in both cases, whether the person is a registered donor or not, the process of organ transplantation begins only after the family gives their consent to donate organs as it is considered as the final decision. If the family gives consent for donating the organs, the search for a recipient begins.
4) The recipient of the organ transplant needs to get registered on the waiting list handled by NOTTO. The donee then needs to wait patiently until a suitable donor is identified. Medical compatibility is assessed after the donor and the donee are traced. The donee is informed about the compatibility and transplantation can take place.