Essay On Organ Donation

1093 Words5 Pages
Everybody dies, but one's kidneys may not have to. Organ transplant, as defined by World Health Organization (2013), is “the transfer of human cells, tissues or organs from a donor to a recipient with the aim of restoring function(s) in the body”. In Hong Kong, not everyone in need has such opportunity to receive a donated organ as the limited supply of both living and cadaveric organs has failed to meet the soaring demand. To alleviate the situation, it is pivotal to enlarge the pool of donors by establishing effective communication means between donors and their families, enhancing the quality of healthcare professionals, and introducing standardized procedures for healthcare professionals to follow in handling the cases of deceased donors.…show more content…
The ascending success rate of organ transplant (Buckley, 2000), the refinement in screening techniques, and the better usage of immunosuppressant drugs (Caplan, 1984) have contributed to an increase in possible beneficiaries of organ donation, resulting in a greater demand for organ transplant. Meanwhile, factors including the improved trauma care, the more effective safety measures applied in traffic accidents, and the low incidence of confirmation of “brain death”, which is the neurological criterion for a donor to be subjected to cadaveric organ donation, were found responsible for the relatively small number of donors (Buckley, 2000). Organ shortage adversely affects both individuals and the society at large. As mentioned above, failure in receiving the organ in time causes mortalities in patients. Similar scenarios appear not only in Hong Kong but also in other developed countries, such as the United Kingdom, where organ shortage was found claiming three lives every day in 2011 (Perman & Bettany, 2011). The decease or the prolonged agony of the patients concerned may also cast both physical and psychological pressure on their respective families, friends, and the healthcare providers
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