Ending Life Well: Conversations & Connections
The Heart of Organ and Tissue Donation
By McKenna Reinhard , End of Life Specialist
February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart health. This is important because heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US. Many people believe heart disease and especially heart failure (a leading cause of disability in the US) is an old age disorder. But heart disease can affect people of any age, and in extreme cases, some people may need a heart transplant. In fact, according 2021 data, 3,502 people in the US were on the wait list for a heart transplant. PCOA’s End of Life Team gets asked about organ and body donation frequently, so we thought this would be a good time to shed some light on this often- confusing topic. When considering deceased organ and tissue donation, the heart is just one of the things that can be donated. You can also donate kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, intestines, corneas, heart valves, skin, veins, arteries, nerves, tendons, and bones. When you register as an organ and tissue donor, you can decide which organs you would like to donate and if you would like to authorize them for transplant and/or research. If you authorize your tissue and organs to be used for
research, only those which are not suitable for transplant will be used for research. Another option is whole body donation, where you donate your entire body to an institution for research and education. This institution may be a medical school, or it may be a research organization. As the name implies, most institutions require donation of your whole body rather than specific organs or tissue. People often share with us their desire to be an organ or body donor but worry that they are “too old.” There is no legal age limit for donation and, in 2021, one out of every three people who donated organs was over age 50—the oldest organ donor was 92! While about 90% of people sampled say they support organ donation, only about 60% of the adult population in the US is currently registered to donate. This is important because out of every 1,000 deaths, only three occur in a way that allows for deceased organ donation. If you would like to be an organ/tissue donor, speak with a donation institution and let the professionals assess your eligibility.
To learn more about organ and body donation, or other body disposition information, please register for our presentation, “You’re Dead, Now What? Exploring Body Disposition Options” on Wednesday, February 22nd from 10 AM to 11 AM by calling McKenna at (520) 790-7573 x 1722. You can also schedule a one-on-one appointment with one of our End of Life Specialists by calling (520) 790-7262.
February 2023, Never Too Late | Page 25
Pima Council on Aging
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