Should You Donate Your Organs?

Every day, at least twenty people in the United States alone die due to a lack of organ donations. Tissue and organ donation has wide-reaching benefits, as those who need skin, bones, ligaments, tendons, heart valves, and more often have no other options. While organ donation is a great choice for before services at funeral homes in Colonial Beach, VA, it’s not necessarily right for everyone. Should you donate your organs or not?

Here are some common reasons not to donate to help guide your choice.

• Religion – Many religions forbid organ donation, oftentimes because they believe the body needs to be whole in order to reunite with the soul in the afterlife. The most common religions that discourage organ donation include Native Americans, Shintoists, Confucians, Roma Gypsies, and some Orthodox Jews.
• Personal Beliefs – Some feel that organ donation doesn’t save lives, but instead that it only puts off the inevitable. Organ donation is your choice, so this belief is well within your right.
• Medical Conditions – Certain diseases or conditions including HIV, heart or kidney disease, cancer, and diabetes make organ donation unsafe for the donor and the recipient.
• Distrust – Many people don’t want to donate their organs because they’re worried that medical professionals won’t work as hard to save their life so the doctors can harvest their organs. They don’t trust that doctors or hospitals will look out for their best interests.
• No Control Over the Recipient – In most cases, organ donors have no control over who will receive their organs or tissues. Instead, organs go to the next person on the list, no matter the donor’s preferences.

Whether any or all of these reasons apply to you, or you’re not comfortable donating for another reason, you don’t have to do it. Simply make sure your family and loved ones are aware of and understand your feelings. Here are some reasons to donate as well:

• Save Lives – It’s a fact that organ donation saves lives. Depending on your donation preferences, your organs can save up to eight different people if you choose to donate your heart, intestines, pancreas, liver, two lungs, and two kidneys. If you choose to donate tissue, eyes, and other parts, your donation can improve and save the lives of even more people.
• Advanced Science – Whole body donation to research is how most medical and scientific advancements are made. Your body can be used to study and treat diseases, develop new medical procedures, and educate future generations of healthcare providers.
• Find Meaning – Death is scary, but choosing to donate your organs will ensure there’s meaning in your death.
• Move the List – The organ donation list has over 107,000 people! By donating, you are moving the list so those people can get the help they need and so there’s more room on the list for new people that need help.
• Help People of All Ages – Everyone from newborn babies to grandparents needs organ and tissue transplants, so your donation will help people of all ages. If they’re otherwise healthy, no matter the donator’s age, their organs will be viable for donation

Remember, organ, tissue, and body donation are personal choices. No one can decide for you, and no choice is wrong. We are here to help if you want to learn more about body donation or Colonial Beach, VA funeral homes.