- Over 89,000 U.S. patients are currently waiting organ transplant and nearly 4,000 new patients are added to the waiting list each month.
- Every day, 17 people die while waiting for a transplant of a vital organ, such as a heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, lung or bone marrow.
- An estimated 12,000 people who die each year meet the criteria for organ donation, but less than half of that number become actual organ donors.
I understand donating an organ is a personal choice; but, why wouldn't you? And for those of you who are organ donors, I encourage you to be good stewards of the organs with which God has blessed you.
1 comment:
About 50% of the organs transplanted in America go to people who haven't agreed to donate their own organs when they die. As long as we let non-donors jump to the front of the waiting list if they need a transplant we'll always have an organ shortage.
There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88.
Post a Comment