What Is Organ Donation
1. What is organ donation?
Organ donation is a surgical procedure for the removal of organs from donor for the purpose of transplantation following an expressed consent that based on the donor’s medical and social history.
There are two types of organ donation:
a. Deceased organ donation
Donation of organs by those who have just died recently. Deceased donation may come from accident casualties whose organs are still in good condition and suitable for transplant purposes. Retrieval of organs requires consent from family members.
b. Living organ donation
Donation of organs by a living person. Living donation is usually limited to close family members who are genetically-related or a spouse to the recipient. It is essential that the donor and the recipient to have compatible blood and tissue type for transplant surgery to be carried out.
2. What are the organs and tissues that can be donated?
Organs: Kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas.
Tissues: Corneas, arteries or veins, intestines, tendons, ligaments, bones, bone marrow, skin, heart valves, connective tissues etc.
3. Statistic
Unfortunately, the demand for organs significantly surpasses the number of donors nationwide.
Based on the National Transplant Resource Centre's statistics up to Jan 2015, there are 19,353 patients waiting for organ transplantation. The kidney is the most-needed organ in Malaysia involving 19,329 patients, followed by liver (nine), lung (seven), heart (six) and heart and lung (two).
Organ
Number of organs needed
Kidney
19,329
Liver
Adult: 5 ; Children: 4
Heart
6
Lungs
7
Heart and lungs
2
Total
19,353
However, only 458 people (deceased) have donated their organs from 1976 to 31 March 2014 while 250,052 people, or fewer than one per cent of the nation’s population, have pledged to donate their organs since 1997.
4. What are the benefits of organ donating?
a. New lease on life
For those receiving the organs, these transplants can mean a second chance at life. For some, it means
Organ donation is a surgical procedure for the removal of organs from donor for the purpose of transplantation following an expressed consent that based on the donor’s medical and social history.
There are two types of organ donation:
a. Deceased organ donation
Donation of organs by those who have just died recently. Deceased donation may come from accident casualties whose organs are still in good condition and suitable for transplant purposes. Retrieval of organs requires consent from family members.
b. Living organ donation
Donation of organs by a living person. Living donation is usually limited to close family members who are genetically-related or a spouse to the recipient. It is essential that the donor and the recipient to have compatible blood and tissue type for transplant surgery to be carried out.
2. What are the organs and tissues that can be donated?
Organs: Kidneys, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas.
Tissues: Corneas, arteries or veins, intestines, tendons, ligaments, bones, bone marrow, skin, heart valves, connective tissues etc.
3. Statistic
Unfortunately, the demand for organs significantly surpasses the number of donors nationwide.
Based on the National Transplant Resource Centre's statistics up to Jan 2015, there are 19,353 patients waiting for organ transplantation. The kidney is the most-needed organ in Malaysia involving 19,329 patients, followed by liver (nine), lung (seven), heart (six) and heart and lung (two).
Organ
Number of organs needed
Kidney
19,329
Liver
Adult: 5 ; Children: 4
Heart
6
Lungs
7
Heart and lungs
2
Total
19,353
However, only 458 people (deceased) have donated their organs from 1976 to 31 March 2014 while 250,052 people, or fewer than one per cent of the nation’s population, have pledged to donate their organs since 1997.
4. What are the benefits of organ donating?
a. New lease on life
For those receiving the organs, these transplants can mean a second chance at life. For some, it means