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What is Organ Donation?

To understand Organ Donation, it is first important to understand Organ Transplants. A transplant is a medical procedure where one person’s dysfunctional organ or tissue is replaced by that of a healthy person, thus restoring its function. In certain cases, despite major advances in Medical Science, transplant is the only alternative. Transplants drastically improve the quality of life of the patient and give them another chance to live.

To state the obvious, a transplant can only take place if there is an organ available from a donor.

There are two situations under which Organ donation occur- when the person making the donation is alive (Live Donations) or after the person dies (Deceased Donations).

Live Donations

As per the Transplantation of Human Organs Act 1994 , only first degree relatives (Parents, siblings & children) are allowed to be Live Donors. There is a stipulation on the organs that can be donated. They can donate one Kidney (as one kidney is capable of maintaining the body functions), a portion of Pancreas (as half of the pancreas is adequate for sustaining pancreatic functions) and a part of the Liver (as the few segments that are donated will regenerate after a period of time).

Deceased Donations

Death is of two main types Brain Death and Cardiac/Natural Death.

Brain Death
Brain death is the irreversible and permanent end of all brain functions. The brain can no longer send messages to the body to perform vital functions like breathing, sensation, obeying commands etc. Such persons are kept on artificial support (ventilators) to maintain oxygenation of organs so that the organs are in healthy condition until they are removed. Most cases of brain death are the end result of head injuries or brain tumor patients from Intensive care units. Brain death is different from being in a Coma, or in a Persistent vegetative state, in brain death there is no possibility of recovery, and the patient is declared clinically and legally dead. It is possible to donate all organs in the case of Brain death.

Cardiac Death
When a person suffers a Cardiac death, the heart stops beating. Due to the lack of circulation of blood the vital organs quickly become unusable for transplantation. However, if the person is on a ventilator and if it is medically clear that the person cannot survive, then the family can consider Organ donation for certain vital organs. Such donations typically take place in the operating room. Once the heart stops beating, death is declared and the organs are retrieved. Details of the organs that can be donated and their time frames are available at What can you donate?

Donors

"Letting my daughter go was the most difficult decision that I have had to take. But what gives me the strength to go on is the fact that she continues to live in the hearts and lives of the people whom she had helped," said Mr. Bharech, who decided to donate Harshita's organs.

Donors

"My wife had expressed her desire to donate her eyes and organs. According to her will, we gave our consent for organ retrieval,"said Mr. Menon whose wife gave a new life to five people by way of organ donation. He continues that his wife has given the best gift to humanity by donating her organs!

Donors

"I want my son to live forever. We are glad our son can help someone even in his death" were the words spoken by Mr. Pradeep who donated the eyes of his 6 year old son Mohit who died in a road accident.

Recipients

"Life after death is possible only by 'Organ Donation'. One can live after his death, or can see his beloved ones living after their death by organ donation. This simply requires decision for organ donation at right time and at right place. It is truest gift of life." - Mrs. Preeti Unhale who underwent a heart transplant in 2001.

Recipients

"I felt elated at the prospect of receiving a new kidney and a new life." - Anupam Gokhale who under went a kidney transplant operation

Recipients

"Today I am alive because a family decided to grant me life by donating organs of their near ones. By doing so, God alone knows what a great deed they have done." - Mrs. Anita Malhotra, a kidney transplant recipient

Recipients

"Organ Donation is a gift from one family to the other. It is a contribution to the society from which we are getting so much." - Mr. Mahabir Singh who underwent a heart transplant.