Organ And Tissue Donation
Affects Us All
SHARING IN THE GIFT OF LIFE
Introduction
A recent Gallup poll showed that less than 10% of people in the United States are aware that their religion has doctrines regarding organ and tissue donation. Although these beliefs differ from religion to religion, the underlying theme is the same: organ and tissue donation represents one of the highest forms of loving, giving, and caring. These are principles upon which all religions are based.
This brochure has been designed to help answer common questions about organ and tissue donation, as well as give a brief overview of various denominational beliefs about organ and tissue donation.
Organ and tissue transplantation has provided the gift of life and enhanced health to hundreds of thousands of health-impaired and terminally ill people. Unfortunately, waiting lists grow longer and longer each day. In fact, for each transplant performed, three people are left waiting. Each day, eight people in the United States die while waiting for an organ transplant.
You have the unique opportunity to change these statistics. Both in individual counseling and as a community leader, your voice can and should be heard. There are numerous ways you can reach your congregation and your community. Here are eight ideas to get you started:
Encourage the dissemination of transplant and donor information through the appropriate channels of your congregation and community.
When approached by a grieving family struggling
with the question of whether or not to donate their loved one's organs and tissues, there
are no easy answers. However, perhaps the following excerpts from a
sermon by Rabbi James A. Givson, Mt. Sinai Congregation, Wausau, Wisconsin,
can provide a basis for your response, "Who of
us would refuse to save a life if we had the chance?
How many of us would simply walk away,
refusing to get involved? Not many, if any at all.
We can respond by affirming life and we can do
so ourselves by our very own assent. We can do
so by agreeing to pass on the parts of our own
lives when we are no longer in need of them. We can
donate part of ourselves to those who are in
need of them to sustain and reinvigorate their own lives.
Organ and tissue donation is an opportunity to make a positive, valuable contribution from a tragic death. Donation can provide considerable comfort to families who realize their loved one has given others new life.
Is there any conflict of interest between saving the life of the donor and recovering organs/tissues for transplant?
Absolutely not. Donation is considered only after all efforts to save life have been exhausted and death has occurred. The transplant team has no involvement prior to death and is called in only after death has been declared.
Who will receive the donated organs and tissues?
The donated organs will be transplanted into those people who need them most urgently. Recipient selection is based on medical criteria such as blood type, genetic make-up, and body size. People receive tissues based upon their medical condition. Race and social status are not a factor in selecting recipients.
How are organs and tissues recovered?
It is a surgical procedure performed by trained surgeons and medical personnel. A complete medical and social examination of the donor takes place in order to ensure the safety of the organs/tissues for the recipient. The body is treated with the utmost of care and respect, so that an open-casket funeral remains an option.
Is there any charge to the family for donation?
No. There is no charge nor payment for the removal of organs/tissues used in transplants. Family members bear no expense except for funeral arrangements, burial, and hospital medical expenses incurred prior to death.
Will the family know who received the organs and tissues?
Within a few weeks, the family will receive general information about who received the organs and how they are doing. The names of the recipients and donors are considered confidential infolTnation. Because donation of tissue may benefit up to 100 people, the family is not notified of the recipients.
Why must the decision to donate be made immediately?
In order to provide optimum transplant success, removal of the organs and tissues should be accomplished as quickly as possible. This urgency does not change the fact that the decision should be carefully considered and acceptable to family members. This is why prior family discussion is so important.
The vast majority of denominations view organ and tissue donation as an act of charity, compassion, and neighborly love. Some of these denominations are:
AME & AME/Zion Assembly of God Baptist Buddhism Catholicism Disciples of Christ Episcopal Evangelical Greek Orthodox Hinduism Islam Judaism Lutheran Mennonite Mormon and RLDS Presbyterian Seventh-Day Adventist Unitarian Universalist United Church of Christ United Methodist
Endorsed by the Religious Advisory Committee an interfaith group of local clergy and hospital chaplains committed to public and professional education in relation to organ and tissue donation.
Rabbi Bernard Gerson
-Congregation Rodef Shalom
Father Frank Gold
-St. Joseph 's Hospital
Chaplain Cassell Gross
-Shambhala Center
Reverend Doug Overall
-Denver General Hospital
Reverend Jerry Patton
-Spottswood AME Zion Church
Reverend MarKeva Gwendolyn Peters
-New Hope Baptist Church
Chaplain Virginia Postle
-Provenant St. Anthony Hospital Central
Ms. Jennifer Radcliffe
-Seminarian and Heart Recipient
Reverend Canon Joe Robinson
-St. John 's Episcopal Cathedral
Reverend Bill Selby
-St. Luke 's United Methodist Church
Deacon Everett Spees, MD
-Transplant Surgeon
Chaplain Ethel Wilhelm
-Littleton Hospital
Reverend Sandra Wilson
-St. Thomas Episcopal Church
