The Mayo Clinic dispels 10 donation myths
Summary Statements of Various Religious Groups About Organ and Tissue Donation
Donation and Transplantation Stats
More than 103,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S. More than 600 of them are 5 years old or younger.
There are almost 400 people in the Intermountain Donor Services area on the national waiting list and 25 of those are under 17 years old.
On average, 133 people are added to the nations organ transplant waiting list each dayone every 11 minutes.
Approximately 78 organ transplants take place every day in the U.S.
Sadly, an average of 18 patients die every day while waiting, simply because the organ they needed did not become available in time.
More than 28,000 patients began new lives last year thanks to organ transplants.
More than 1 million tissue transplants are done each year and the surgical need for tissue has been steadily rising.
Annually, there are more than 25,000 tissue donors and 70,000 cornea donors.
On average, a single tissue donor can save or enhance the lives of up to 50 people.
Approximately 39,000 patients had their sight restored last year through
cornea transplants.
A living donor can provide a kidney or a portion of their liver, lung, pancreas
or intestine.
Almost two-thirds of all living donors are relatives of their recipient, most
commonly siblings.
The number of unrelated living donors has more than tripled since 1998.
The number one priority of medical staff is to save the life of their patient.
The decision to be an organ donor will not affect your medical care.
You may still be able to donate organs even if you are unable to donate blood.
People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential
donors. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what
organs and tissue can be donated.
One in 10 deceased donors is age 65 or over.
All major religions support organ, eye and tissue donation as an unselfish act
of charity.
It is important to let your family know your wishes.
