California Organ Donation

[Code Brown]

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Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone,

Check out the new California Organ & Tissue donation website. This site allows you to sign up online to be an organ and tissue donor in California. Your organ donation could save the lives of eight people, and your tissue donation enhance the lives of another 50 people. This replaces the old "pink" sticker on the driver's license.

http://www.donatelifecalifornia.org/

Sign up and pass it on to everyone you know!

 

[bmcgilligan]

It's more important to let your next of kin aware of your decision. Even if you choose to be an organ donor on your license, or on the above mentioned website, it is the next of kin that gives consent.

After every death, hospitals call in referrals to the organ procurement agency and various tissue recovery agencies. If the donor is suitable (doesn't have any diseases or conditions that would rule him/her out for various transplants) then the next of kin is contacted by trained requesters. If the next of kin says yes to donation, the patient becomes an organ donor. If the next of kin says no, there will be no donation.

The next of kin can decide which of the suitable tissues/organs he/she wants his/her loved one to donate. So...if you have a problem with donating a certain part of your body, but not with others, let your next of kin know that too.

Organ donation does not change one's appearance for the funeral. Donation does not cost the family any money. There are no drawbacks to donation...only plusses.

(I am regional director for an Eye Bank in northern Florida)

 

[brats800]

I am a recovery tech for one of our local tissue procurement agencies. I have gotten a very unique perspective being involved in the recovery. Once consent is obtained, we go to the recovery site (usually this is done in an OR but sometimes in the morgue, depending on the location and what is available.) We prep the donor, recover the tissues (skin, bone, tendons, veins, and/or heart for the valves), and reconstruct and clean the donor so that they could still have an open casket funeral. I would urge people interested to learn more about organ and tissue donation. Also, if anyone has questions about donation/recovery that I could answer, feel free to ask me. I never knew much about the field up until this year other than that it helped people and I thought it was a good idea. Here are some links of companies/organizations that I am affiliated with:

http://www.donatelife.net/

http://www.mtf.org/

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

If you want to get involved with organ donation education at your school, please click here to find out how you can do so http://studentdonor.org/get_involved/college.htm. Students for Organ Donation offers students the chance to start their own student organization, while being involved in a very important and growing public health field. Check it out!

 

[Code Brown]

bump.

 

[MoosePilot]

It's an incredibly tough decision to make at the time, so be sure your family knows beyond the shadow of a doubt your wishes. That makes it easier.