One Life Becomes Eight Lives: Become an Organ Donor

Susan Meyer                                                                                                                                      

ENG 102-048

Dr. Carriero

Toulmin Logic Essay

25 April 2013

One Life Becomes Eight Lives: Become an Organ Donor

According to The Harvest Fields, “53.3 million people die each year” (“Population Statistics”). The question is, are we doing everything we can to prevent these deaths?  Not all deaths are preventable; however, there are many deaths that could be prevented. Organ donors have the power to save up to eight lives; each person should be an organ donor so that no one dies due to organ failure. Organ donation is a problem in the world today that needs to be recognized. There are far too many lives lost that could easily be saved by organ donation. Organ donation is something that everyone needs to consider not only does it save the lives of up to eight people, becoming an organ donor myself, I know that if I am ever in need, it will save my life. Organ donation can save the lives of people of all ages.

            According to the Organ Donation Network, “19 people die each day waiting for transplants because of the shortage of available donor organs” (“Statistics”). This quote shows that many people die per day when in reality, no one should be dying of organ failure. According to The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “one person [who becomes an organ donor] can save up to eight lives” (“The Need is Real”). This quote shows that two more organ donors per day could potentially save the lives of those nineteen people that die each day. A little over “100,000 people in the United States are on waiting lists for kidneys, hearts, livers, lungs, and other organs” (“Organ Transplantation”). Out of the 100,000 people in need of an organ transplant, only “75 people receive organ transplants each day” (“Statistics”). Organ donation is not a problem this world should be facing. People should not be dying each day because there are not enough organs to go around. Two more organ donors, per day, could save the lives of the nineteen lives lost each day.

            Becoming an organ donor saves lives. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,

Carlee Baladez was born with a life-threatening heart condition and was just shy of 2 years old when she received a new heart in 2001. Now a decade later, Carlee is an active girl, participating in just about anything that she can talk her way into. She and her family are actively involved in Southwest Transplant Alliance’s annual Texas Rangers Organ Donor Game and in annual promotions with the Dallas Mavericks. (“Life Stories”)

This quote shows how Carlee’s heart transplant gave her an opportunity to live her life. Not only is she alive because of the transplant but she is able to participate in many different activities, including softball, as shown below in figure one.

 

Fig. 1. Carlee Baladez received a heart transplant when she was only two years old and now is an active child who enjoys playing softball (“Life Stories”).

            I would never like to see a day where I would be subject to death because there are not enough organs available to save my life, if I was ever in an accident causing me to need an organ donation. Nor would I ever like to see one of my close friends or family members lose their lives due to organ failure. By donating one’s organs, one is not harmed in any way and is able to give the gift of life to up to eight people. For this reason, after learning about organ donation I have registered to be an organ donor. Leaving this earth, there is nothing more I could wish to save than the lives of eight other people.

Some people who are opposed to becoming organ donors claim that it puts them at risk. They argue that an organ transplant could endanger their chance to be saved by a doctor. They believe the doctors, knowing that they are an organ donor; will not try their best to keep them alive. This is assumed by many people because if an organ donor dies, someone’s life, even a few others’ lives, could be saved. Another concern that many critics have is that they will not actually be dead when their death certificate is signed. People who believe this think that their organs are taken right away when they are pronounced dead and fear that they may have been wrongfully examined. An open-casket funeral is often believed not to be an option for those who choose to be organ donors. Many believe that due to the surgery done to remove the organs that the physical appearance of their body will be too damaged to show in an open-casket. People also claim that becoming an organ donor is against their religious beliefs and do not wish to go against their own morals.

Others who struggle with illnesses also believe that their organs may not be suitable for another human being. Teens often do not believe they are old enough to make the decision to be an organ donor.   Many people also believe that their families will be charged when their organs are donated. They do not wish to burden their family members with fees in order to donate their organs. The rich and famous are often believed to be put at the top of the waiting list for organ donation. Many critics decide not to donate because they think that if they were ever in need of an organ they would not get one because they are not famous. Some people argue that no one will be able to use their organs because they are too old. Due to their old age, they believe their organs would not be able to work properly to support another person’s needs. Though there appear to be many negative affiliations with becoming an organ donor when one looks further into these beliefs they will find that they are simply myths.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the many beliefs about organ donation previously mentioned are misconceptions. These myths prove to be false and are not justifiable reasons to not become an organ donor. According to the Mayo Clinic, “When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors will focus on saving the patient’s life, not someone else’s. The patient will be seen by a doctor whose specialty most closely matches your particular emergency. The doctor in charge of the patient’s care has nothing to do with transplantation” (“Organ Donation: Don’t Let Myths Confuse You”). This quote explains that a doctor is entitled to save the life of the patient to his best ability, regardless of whether or not they are an organ donor. Organ donation does is not guaranteed to save lives; transplants do not always work. If a doctor could guarantee the patient’s life but not the lives of the others that the patient’s organs could save, he or she would save the life that they are able to save.  As mentioned earlier, many fear that their death certificate will be signed when they are not actually dead; however, this is entirely false. The Mayo Clinic claims, “people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests (at no charge to their families) to determine that they’re truly dead than those who haven’t agreed to organ donation” (“Organ Donation: Don’t Let Myths Confuse You”). Not only will someone who has signed up for organ donation be declared dead, they will be tested multiple times to be certain of this conclusion. Critics have argued that they cannot have an open-casket funeral if they sign up to be organ donors. The Mayo Clinic refutes this argument in declaring, “Organ and tissue donation doesn’t interfere with having an open-casket funeral. The donor’s body is clothed for the burial, so there are no visible signs of organ or tissue donation … Because the donor is clothed and lying on his or her back in the casket, no one can see the difference” (“Organ Donation: Don’t Let Myths Confuse You”). This quote explains that being an organ donor will not prevent one from having an open-casket funeral; no one will be able to tell the difference.

Many people argue that organ donation is against their religion; however, according to the Mayo Clinic, “Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. This includes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and most branches of Judaism” (“Organ Donation: Don’t Let Myths Confuse You”). Many religions support organ donation and do not argue against it. If one is unsure of their religious affiliation’s decision they could simply speak to a member or their clergy. Others believe that their illness will prevent them from donating their organs. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Very few medical conditions automatically disqualify one from donating organs” (“Organ Donation: Don’t Let Myths Confuse You”). This quote shows that most illnesses do not affect organ donation. If one is under eighteen years old, it is true that they cannot legally sign up to be an organ donor; however, according to the Mayo Clinic, one’s “parents can authorize this decision [organ donation]. One can express to their parents their wish to donate, and their parents can give their consent knowing that it’s what you wanted” (“Organ Donation: Don’t Let Myths Confuse You”). Many believe is is costly to be an organ donor; however, “there is no cost to donors or their families for organ or tissue donation” (“Learn the Facts”). This quote shows that neither the organ donor nor their family is charged for organ donation. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The rich and famous aren’t given priority when it comes to allocating organs. It may seem that way because of the amount of publicity generated when celebrities receive a transplant, but they are treated no differently from anyone else” (“Organ Donation: Don’t Let Myths Confuse You”). This quote shows that regardless of wealth or fame, everyone is given the same opportunity to receive a transplant.

Though people argue they are too old, according to the Mayo Clinic, “There’s no defined cutoff age for donating organs. Organs have been transplanted from their donors in their 70s and 80s. The decision to use one’s organs is based on strict medical criteria, not age” (“Organ Donation: Don’t Let Myths Confuse You”). In fact, “People of all ages from infants to great-grandparents are on the national transplant waiting list” (“Statistics & Facts for People over 50”). This quote shows that regardless of age, one can be in need of an organ donation which implies that people of all ages are needed in organ donation. Not all people who receive transplants are young,

When Dr. Yeon Won Bae couldn’t find the energy to do the things he loved, he assumed it was stress. It turned out that his kidneys were only working at 30% capacity due to kidney disease. He quickly began to make every effort to stop the progression of the disease. Despite these efforts, his condition worsened and eventually became life threatening during a visit to his native North Korea. Dr. Bae returned to the United States and underwent extensive dialysis. In his weakened state, the strain of dialysis was almost unbearable. He decided to request a kidney transplant. Three months after being placed on the transplant list, a donor was found. Upon waking from his transplant surgery, Dr. Bae recalls, “On that day, I began my days with renewed hope, sharing a life with an unnamed donor who had given me his organ as the rest of his body passed to the other side … I felt as if I had passed through a long dark tunnel of fear and everything now seemed new, bright, and beautiful. (“Life Stories)

Fig. 2. Dr. Yeon Won Bae would not have survived without his kidney transplant which he received later in age.

This quote shows that transplants are not available right away; Dr. Bae had to wait three months for his transplant. This quote also explains that people who need transplants are sometimes over the age of fifty. There are many myths regarding organ donation, however, many find that in doing the research, organ donation is well worth it.

If everyone was an organ donor, there would be more than enough organs to go around. If 53 million, of the 53.3 million of people who die in the world per year were organ donors 424,000,000 lives could potentially be saved worldwide. The U.S. alone has 100,000 people on the waiting list for an organ transplant; this is less than one percent of the potential 424,000,000 organs that could be available. Signing up is simple, it takes only two minutes. One could sign up when they receive or renew their license or could sign up online on the Donate Life website. Organ donation does not affect one’s life until after death. There is no better gift to give as one passes on than the gift of eight lives.

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Works Cited

"The Harvest Fields • Statistics 2013." Statistics Population, World, Countries, Cities, Religions, Roman Catholic, Muslims. Wholesome Words, 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

"Learn the Facts." Donatelifenet RSS2. Donate Life America, Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

"Life Stories." Donate the Gift of Life. Health Resource and Services Administration, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

Lowe Cape Town. “Organ Donor Foundation TV ad - 'Leila' .” Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 31. October. 2011. Web. 25. April. 2013.

"The Need Is Real: Data." Donate the Gift of Life. Health Resource and Services Administration, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

"Organ Transplantation." The Hastings Center. The Hastings Center, 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Organ Donation: Don't Let These Myths Confuse You." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 03 Apr. 2010. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.

"Statistics." Organ Donation Network. TNNOD.org, 2011. Web. 25 Apr. 2013.