Most Common Misconceptions about Organ Donation: A lot of these misconceptions have made people second guess when it comes to
donating their organs. Well, the truth about organ donation shall set
you free. Here are myths vs. facts about organ donation:

Myth: Transplants don’t really work. They’re experimental.
Fact: Transplantation is a standard medical procedure, and one
year survival rates for kidney recipients are 98%.

Myth: It costs money to donate.
Fact: Donor families are not charged for the medical costs associated
with organ donation.

Myth: Wealthy people can buy organs. That’s not fair.
Fact: It is a crime to buy or sell organs. For people on the national waiting
list for organs, matching is based on blood and tissue type, medial urgency, time spent on the waiting list, and geographical location. There is absolutely
no way to buy a place on the national waiting list.

Myth: Donation is painful for the donor’s family.
Fact: Studies show that donation most often provides immediate and
long-term consolation. Donation can be especially comforting when the
death is unexpected and the donor is young.

Myth: Doctor will let a patient die just so they can transplant their organs
into other patients.
Fact: Doctors who treat patients at death have nothing to do with the transplantation of those organs and tissues. Every effort is made to save
a patient’s life before donation can be considered.

Myth: Donation disfigures the body and delays the funeral.
Fact: Donation surgery includes careful reconstruction of the body and
doesn’t interfere with funeral plans, including open-casket services. Most donations take place within 24 hours after death, so funeral arrangements
will not be delayed.

Myth: Donating organs and tissues are against religious beliefs.
Fact: All major religions support donation and have provided statements
for their worshippers.

Myth: Signing a donor care is pointless.
Fact: Signing a donor card, and discussing your decision with your family member, is the best way to assure that your personal wishes will be
carried out.

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Minorities and Donation:
Minorities, especially African-Americans, form more than half of the 80,000 persons waiting on the national list for a kidney. Twenty- seven percent of Caucasians is willing to donate their organs after death, but only 10% of
African-Americans are willing to do so.

Why do African-Americans donate their organs less often that Caucasians?
The main reason why African Americans do not donate their organs is fear
of early death. Others reasons include:
-lack of knowledge
-religious belief
-lack of communication and trust of laypersons and healthcare providers

Seventy-six percent of the U.S. population is aware of organ donor cards
and 18% have signed one, whereas only 65% of African-Americans are
aware of them and only 5% have signed one.

Please remember only you have the power to save lives! Get the facts
about organ donation.

ORGAN DONATION
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are
more than 80,000 persons on the national transplant waiting list.

Approximately 50% represent minorities:
African Americans 23,848
Hispanics/Latinos 12,980
Asians/Pacific Islanders 4,527
Other 1,944
16 persons die each day waiting for a life saving organ transplant.
Every 16 minutes, a new name is added to the national waiting list.

Source: UNOS
Minorities Form More Than Half Of
Kidney Transplant Waiting List*

Minorities Donate In Proportion
To Their Population Distribution

BONE MARROW
At any given moment, more than 3,300 persons are searching the bone
marrow registry.

DIABETES
Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs within children. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, usually occurring after age 45. Complications include: blindness, kidney disease, amputations, heart attack and stroke.

Prevalence in African Americans:

Approximately 2.3 million African Americans have diabetes. 1/3 of them do
not know it.
African Americans are 1.7 times more like to have diabetes, than Non-Latino Whites.
25% of African Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have diabetes.
1 in 4 African American women over 55 years of age have diabetes.
Prevalence in Native Americans:

Native Americans have the highest rates of diabetes in the world.
Type 2 diabetes among Native Americans is 12.2% for those over 19 years
of age.
Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions among Native Americans. Complications from diabetes are major causes of death and health problems
in most Native American populations.
Amputations among Native Americans are 3-4 times higher than the general population.
Prevalence in Hispanics/Latinos:

Type 2 diabetes is 2 times higher in Latinos than in Non-Latino Whites.
1.2 million of all Mexican Americans have diabetes.
Nearly 16% of Cuban Americans in the U.S. between the ages of 45-74
have diabetes.
Approximately 24% of Mexican Americans in U.S. and 26% of
Puerto Ricans between the ages of 45-75 have diabetes.

Diabetes Source: American Diabetes Association
HYPERTENSION (also referred to as high blood pressure)

23% of Americans aged 20-74 have hypertension.
Over three quarters of women aged 75 and over have hypertension.
64% of men aged 75 and over have hypertension.
As many as 50 million Americans age 6 and older have hypertension.
Hypertension is most prevalent in the African American population.
It affects about one out of every three African Americans.
One in five Americans has hypertension.
Non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans are more likely to suffer
from hypertension than are non-Hispanic whites.
Over 14,000 deaths each year are attributed to hypertension.
Complications include: heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness.

Source: Health, United States, 2000
American Heart Association
National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 48, No. 11
NUTRITION AND EXERCISE

According to Advance Data 255, the average daily intake of fat grams
for the period 1988-91, totaled 96 grams for males and 67 for females.
It is recommended that the number of fat grams not exceed 25 grams
of fat per day.
Physical Activity:

People who are usually inactive can improve their health and well-being
by becoming even moderately active on a regular basis.
Physical activity need not be strenuous to achieve health benefits.
Greater health benefits can be achieved by increasing the amount
(duration, frequency, or intensity) of physical activity.
Benefits of Regular Physical Activity:

Source of the following information: Centers for Disease Control,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Regular physical activity that is performed on most days of the week
reduces the risk of developing or dying from some of the leading causes
of illness and death in the United States. Regular physical activity
improves health in the following ways:

Reduces the risk of dying prematurely. Reduces the risk of dying from
heart disease.
Reduces the risk of developing diabetes.
Reduces the risk of developing high blood pressure.
Helps reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure.
Helps control weight.
Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints.
Helps older adults become stronger and better able to move about
without falling.
Examples of Moderate Amounts of Activity:

Washing and waxing a car for 45-60 minutes
Playing volleyball for 45 minutes
Playing touch football for 30-45 minutes
Gardening for 30-45 minutes
Walking 1 3/4 miles in 35 minutes (or 20 minutes per mile)
Basketball (shooting baskets) for 30 minutes
Playing a Basketball game for 15-20 minutes
Bicycling 5 miles in 30 minutes
Pushing a stroller 1 mile in 30 minutes
Water aerobics for 30 minutes
Swimming laps for 20 minutes
Jumping rope for 15 minutes
Stairwalking for 15 minutes
NOTE: To avoid soreness and injury, individuals contemplating an increase
in physical activity should start out slowly and gradually build up to the
desire amount to give the body time to adjust. Please consult a physician before beginning a new program of physical activity.

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Religious Views on Donation:
The most common question that arises when people are asked to donate their organs, or those of a loved one, is: “Does donation conflict with my religious beliefs?” The truth is, answers vary from one denomination to another. Research has found that the vast majority of religions support donation and transplantation. Contact your clergy person for more information. The following is some religious views on donation and transplantation:

AME & AME ZION (African Methodist Episcopal)
Organ and tissue donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity by these denominations. They encourage all members to support donation as a way of helping others.

AMISH
The Amish will consent to transplantation if they believe it is for the well-being of the transplant recipient. John Hostetler, world renowned authority on Amish religion and Professor of Anthropology at Temple University in Philadelphia, says in his book,Amish Society, “The Amish believe that since God created the human body, it is God who heals. However, nothing in the Amish understanding of the Bible forbids them from using modern medical services, including surgery, hospitalization, dental work, anesthesia, blood transfusions or immunization.”

ASSEMBLY OF GOD
The Church has no official policy regarding organ and tissue donation, but the decision to donate is left up to the individual. Donation is highly supported by the denomination.

BAPTIST
Donation is supported as an act of charity and the church leaves the decision to donate up to the individual.

BRETHREN
The Church of the Brethren’s Annual Conference in 1993 developed a resolution on organ and tissue donation supporting and encouraging donation. They wrote that, “We have the opportunity to help others out of love for Christ, through the donation of organs and tissues.”

BUDDHISM
Buddhists believe that organ/tissue donation is a matter of individual conscience and place high value on acts of compassion. Reverend Gyomay Masao, President and Founder of the Buddhist Temple of Chicago, says, “We honor those people who donate their bodies and organs to the advancement of medical science and to saving lives.” The importance of letting loved ones know your wishes is stressed. Many families will not give permission to donate unless they know their loved one wanted to be a donor.

CATHOLICISM
Catholics view organ/tissue donation as an act of charity and love. Transplants are morally and ethically acceptable to the Vatican. According to Father Leroy Wickowski, Director of the Office of Health Affairs of the Archdiocese of Chicago, “We encourage donation as an act of charity. It is something good that can result from tragedy and a way for families to find comfort by helping others.”

CHRISTIAN CHURCH (Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Church encourages organ and tissue donation, stating that individuals were created for God’s glory and for sharing God’s love. A 1985 resolution, adopted by the general assembly, encourages” …members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to enroll as organ donors and prayerfully support those who have received an organ transplant.”

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
The Church of Christ Scientist does not have a specific position regarding organ and tissue donation. According to the First Church of Christ Scientist in Boston, Christian Scientists normally rely on spiritual means of healing instead of medical. They are free, however, to choose whatever form of medical treatment they desire – including a transplant. The question of organ/tissue donation is an individual decision.

EPISCOPAL
The Episcopal Church passed a resolution in 1982 that recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ, blood, and tissue donation. All Christians are encouraged to become organ, blood, and tissue donors “as part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who gave His life that we may have life in its fullness.”

GREEK ORTHODOX
According to Revered Dr. Milton Efthimiou, Director of the Department of Church and Society for the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America, “the Greek Orthodox Church is not opposed to organ donation as long as the organs and tissue in question are used to better human life, i.e., for transplantation or for research that will lead to improvements in the treatment and prevention of disease.”

GYPSIES
Gypsies are a people of different ethnic groups without a formalized religion. They share common folk beliefs and tend to be opposed to organ and tissue donation. Their opposition is connected with their beliefs about the afterlife. Traditional belief contends that for one year after death, the soul retraces its steps. Thus, the body must remain intact because the soul maintains its physical shape.

HINDUSIM
According to the Hindu Temple Society of North America, Hindus are not prohibited by religious law from donating their organs. This act is an individual’s decision. H.L.Trivedi, in Transplantation Proceedings, stated that, “Hindu mythology has stories in which the parts of the human body are used for the benefit of other humans and society. There is nothing in the Hindu religion indicating that parts of humans, dead or alive, cannot be used to alleviate the suffering of other humans.”

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE EVANGELICAL
Generally, Evangelicals have no opposition to organ and tissue donation. Each church is autonomous and leaves the decision to donate up to the individual.

ISLAM
The religion of Islam strongly believes in the principle of saving human lives. According to A. Sachedina in his Transplantation Proceeding’s article, “Islamic Views on Organ Transplantation,” “…the majority of the Muslim scholars belonging to various schools of Islamic law have invoked the principle of priority of saving human life and have permitted the organ transplant as a necessity to procure that noble end.”

JEHOVAH’S WITNESS
According to their National Headquarters, the Watch Tower Society, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe donation is a matter of individual decision. Jehovah’s Witnesses are often assumed to be opposed to donation because of their belief against blood transfusion. However, this merely means that all blood must be removed from the organs and tissues before being transplanted. In addition, it would not be acceptable for an organ donor to receive blood as part of the organ recovery process.

JUDAISM
All four branches of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist) support and encourage donation. According to Orthodox Rabbi Moses Tendler, Chairman of the Biology Department of Yeshiva University in New York City and Chairman of the Bioethics Commission of the Rabbinical Council of America, “If one is in the position to donate an organ to save another’s life, it’s obligatory to do so, even if the donor never knows who the beneficiary will be. The basic principle of Jewish ethics-‘the infinite worth of the human being’-also includes donation of corneas, since eyesight restoration is considered a life-saving operation.” In 1991, the Rabbinical Council of America (Orthodox) approved organ donations as permissible, even required, from brain-dead patients. Both the Reform and Conservative movements also have policy statements strongly supporting donation.

LUTHERAN
In 1984, the Lutheran Church in America (Missouri-Synod) passed a resolution stating that donation contributes to the well-being of humanity and can be “an expression of sacrificial love for a neighbor in need.” They call on “members to consider donating organs and to make any necessary family arrangements, including the use of a signed donor card.”

MENNONITE
Mennonites have no formal position on donation, but are not opposed to it. They believe the decision to donate is up to the individual and/or their family.

MORMON (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believes that the decision to donate is an individual one made in the conjunction with family, medical personnel and prayer. They do not oppose donation.

MORAVIAN
The Moravian Church does not have an official policy addressing organ/tissue donation or transplantation. Robert E. Sawyer, President, Provincial Elders Conference, Moravian Church of America, Southern Province, states, “There is nothing in our doctrine or policy that would prevent a Moravian pastor from assisting a family in making a decision to donate or not to donate and organ.” It is, therefore, a matter of individual choice.

PENTECOSTAL
Pentecostals believe that the decision to donate should be left up to the individual.

PRESBYTERIAN
Presbyterians encourage and support donation. They respect a person’s right to make decisions regarding their own body. During their General Assembly in 1995, they wrote a strong support of donation and commented that they “encourage its members and friends to sign and carry Universal Donor Cards…”

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST
Donation and transplantation are strongly encouraged by Seventh-Day Adventists. They have many transplant hospitals, including Loma Linda in California. Loma Linda specializes in pediatric heart transplantation.

SHINTO
In Shinto, the dead body is considered to be impure and dangerous, and thus quite powerful. “In folk belief context, injuring a dead body is a serious crime…”, according to E. Namihira in his article, “Shinto concept concerning the Dead Human Body.” “To this day it is difficult to obtain consent from bereaved families for organ donation or dissection for medical education or pathological anatomy…the Japanese regard them all in the sense of injuring a dead body.” Families are often concerned that they not injure the itai-the relationship between the dead person and the bereaved people.

SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (Quaker)
Organ and tissue donation is believed to be an individual decision. The Society of Friends does not have an official position on donation.

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST
Unitarian Universalists affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person and respect the interdependent web of all existence. They affirm the value of organ and tissue donation, but leave the decision to each individual.

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
Reverend Jay Litner, Director, Washington Office of the United Church of Christ Office for Church in Society, states that “United Church of Christ people, churches and agencies are extremely and overwhelmingly supportive of organ sharing. The General Synod has never spoken to this issue because, in general the Synod speaks on more controversial issues, and there is not controversy about organ sharing, just as there is no controversy about blood donation in the denomination. While the General Synod has never spoken about blood donation, blood donation rooms have been set up at several General Synods. Similarly, any organized effort to get the General Synod delegates or individual churches to sign organ donation cards would meet with generally positive responses.”

UNITED METHODIST
The United Methodist Church issued a policy statement in 1984 regarding organ and tissue donation. In it, they state that “The United Methodist Church recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ and tissue donation, and thereby encourages all Christians to become organ and tissue donors by signing and carrying cards or driver licenses attesting to their commitment of such organs upon their death, to those in need, as part of their ministry to others in the name of Christ, who gave his life that we might have life in its fullness.” A 1992 resolution states, “donation is to be encouraged, assuming appropriate safeguards against hastening death and determination of death by reliable criteria.” The resolution further states that, “Pastoral-care persons should be willing to explore these options as a normal part of conversation with patients and their families.”

WESLEYAN CHURCH
The Wesleyan Church supports donation as a way of helping others. They believe that God’s ability to resurrect us is not dependent on whether or not all our parts were connected at death.” They also support research and in 1989 noted in a task force on public morals and social concerns that “ one of the ways that a Christian can do good is to request that their body be donated to a medical school for us in teaching.”

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