Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Hea

Author: CAROLL

Quick Words:

organ-tissue-donation

Full Text:

HEALTH MONITOR: (SIDEBAR) The Real Truth About Organ And Tissue Donation

Organ donation is only an option after all attempts to save someone's life

have been exhausted.

All major religions support donation. For further guidance, you should speak

to your religious advisor.

If you do not share your decision about donation with your family, it is

likely your wishes won't be followed.

After donation, the body is preserved and family members can have a customary

funeral service of their choice. Open caskets are possible.

Smoking and drinking do not prevent you from being a donor, and you are never

too old to donate organs or tissues that could help others.

The heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, small intestine, corneas, bone,

heart valves, veins, pericardium, tendons and ligaments can all be

transplanted.  Every donated organ and tissue is a precious gift. Each day in

the US, 10 or 11 people die while waiting for an organ transplant. Thousands

of people await tissues for surgical procedures that will help them live

normal lives. A donated cornea will help someone who is blind to see again. A

donated piece of bone may help someone walk. A donated kidney will take

someone off dialysis.

For free organ donor cards and a brochure addressing the most commonly asked

questions about organ donation, call the National Kidney Foundation of

Connecticut at 800/441-1280.