Organ Donation
Organ and tissue donation has become a key part of the healthcare sector. The number of patients whose organs are failing continues to increase. Consequently, the number of those in need of donated organs continues to rise, despite the limited number of donors. At times, it becomes a business as some immoral individuals and groups work in cahoots with medical personnel to illegally acquire organs and sell to needy patients at extremely high prices. The killing of the Falun Gong in China for organ harvesting highlights the high demand for organs. In light of the debate surrounding organ donation, this paper argues that it is a necessary procedure that needs to be embraced by potential donors and patients.
Kidneys, corneas, heart, lungs, liver, intestines, and several other body parts of living or deceased people can be donated to those in need. It is a heroic thing to help a fellow human being who is facing death unless he receives a functioning organ from another person. Organ and tissue donation gives sick people a second chance at life. It saves lives and patients who might not otherwise survive get a chance to live.
Some of the reasons identified by opponents of organ donation are religious. Some religions believe that when one donates his organs during his lifetime, he will suffer torments in the afterlife. Family beliefs have also been cited by some opponents. Some families bar their members from donating organs.
In some cases, the opponents of organ and tissue donation merely ride on misconceptions. For instance, some people believe that during the operation, the donor would have to fund all the costs involved. However, in reality, the costs are usually borne by the organ recipient. In other cases, some people believe that once someone donates organs, doctors would be reluctant to save the donors’ lives once they realize that the patient had donated sometime earlier in their life. This is a fallacy as doctors are legally and ethically required to provide the requisite services to patients at all times.
Contrary to the popular fallacies perpetuated and believed by individuals who are hesitant to donate organs, it is a noble thing to do. It can save the life of not only the recipient but numerous other people. A donor touches the lives of tens of people. When one person donates, he is encouraging many others to do the same. The recipient remains grateful and every single day, he or she knows that without the donor’s generosity and sacrifice, they would be dead.
One can also donate to science. By donating to science, scientists are able to carry out more research, a starting point in the discovery of cures for diseases and the improvement of human life. Scientists’ knowledge of body organs relies to a great extent on donation thus the cure for such diseases as cancer depends on the sacrifice and generosity of individual donors. In a way, donation enhances the wellbeing of humanity.
In conclusion, organ and tissue donation are not just a noble thing to do; it is a human duty. Saving human life overrides any religious and family beliefs. In this regard, a donor does more good by offering their liver, kidney, or other body parts with little or no regard for misconceptions as human life is sacred and worth saving.
