The inability of one of the patient’s organs to function properly due to many different reasons is a condition that reduces the quality of life of the person and mostly affects life functions. The transplantation of an organ that cannot be cured by medical treatment methods from the donor to the recipient by transplantation method is defined as organ transplantation. Thanks to organ donation, while the quality of life of many people increases, it is ensured that as many people hold on to life. Organ donation becomes extremely important in vital situations such as chronic organ failure. On a voluntary basis, anyone over the age of 18 can save another person’s life by becoming an organ donor. While a person can donate his organs and tissues while he is alive, his family can donate his organs after his death. Organ donation, which is still at a very low level in our country, is extremely important and vital. It is extremely important for the transplantation of tissues and organs such as the heart and cornea, especially after the person’s medical death while alive. Because such tissues and organs cannot be taken from living people. “How is organ donation made?” Before moving on to the question “What is organ donation?” It is necessary to understand the answer to the question well.
What is organ donation?
Organ donation is a completely voluntary medical practice. All brain deaths in Turkey are followed by the National Organ and Tissue Transplantation Coordination Center. After brain death, the organ transplant coordinator in the relevant hospital meets with the person’s relatives (primarily first degree relatives). After the relatives’ approval for organ donation, the cadaver’s organs are transplanted to offer other patients a new life opportunity. If the person is healthy and has given approval for the donation of his organs after his death, the transplant center will be informed about this issue and take action for the transplant of the organs. Therefore, organ transplantation is completely based on the principle of voluntariness.
Some or all of the organs can be donated for use in the treatment of other people after brain death. For this, it is sufficient that the person has completed the age of 18 and wants organ transplantation of his own free will. For donation, the person can apply to health directorates, authorized private and state hospitals or health centers. After completing the organ donation form, the person is given an organ donor card and this information is entered into the Organ and Tissue Donation Information System of the Ministry of Health. This information cannot be accessed by anyone other than ministry officials. However, the organ donation card has no effect on its own. Being a donor and carrying the donation card with him is not enough to perform organ transplantation. After the person’s brain death, the authorities question whether the person is a donor through the system. If the person is a donor, regardless of the card’s existence, tissues and organs are requested from the person’s family to save the life of other patients. The decision of the family is the final decision whether the donation will be realized or not. However, being an organ donor usually makes it easier for the family to decide, as it is a testament to the family.
The importance of organ donation
One of the biggest fears about organ donation in the society is that the person is learned to be an organ donor and this information is used by malicious people. Many people give up organ donation because of such untrue rumors. Only the Ministry of Health officials know whether the person is an organ donor. Therefore, it is not possible for third parties to learn whether a person is an organ donor or not. Organ transplantation can be done from a living person or from a cadaver. Organ transplantation from living to living is generally applied for organs such as kidney, liver and lung. This type of transplant, which is mostly done between people in the family, is performed after the patient’s life-threatening situation is determined and the possibility of recovery is determined by the regeneration of the relevant organ by transplant. In this case, the person who will voluntarily donate organs to the patient undergoes health screenings. Blood and tissue compatibility is checked. Since the donor can continue his life with only one kidney, one of his kidneys is transplanted to the patient. Organs such as the liver and lungs are not completely removed from the donor. Instead, a part of the relevant organ is taken and transplanted to the patient. The importance of organ donation emerges at this point. Live-to-live transplants carry a small risk for the donor. This is proof of how important organ donation is. If there is enough organ donation on the basis of society, the rate of tissue and organ transplantation from living to living decreases to very low levels. If the donor is a donor while alive, the tissues and organs involved are a great hope for patients awaiting organ transplant. Transplantation of vital organs such as heart and pancreas is not possible from living to living. Donors are the only way for people in need of these organs to hold on to life. If the person’s brain death does not occur, it is not possible to remove the organs.
Organ transplantation and brain death
Organ transplantation can only be done after the donor’s brain death has occurred. Brain death occurs when the brain irreversibly loses all of its functions. Shortly after brain death, all organs lose their vitality. Although oxygen continues to be sent to the body artificially, it is not possible for the person to recover or return to life after brain death occurs. A person who is brain dead is considered medically and legally dead. This situation should not be confused with coma and vegetative life. It is decided unanimously by two specialist physicians, a neurology or neurosurgeon and an anesthesia or intensive care specialist, that the person’s brain death has occurred. After the written report of brain death, the consent of the family is requested for organ donation. Family consent is always required, regardless of whether the person is a donor or not. In addition, organ removal from a cadaver is performed with great precision, like living surgery, and after the operation, the incision is sutured with aesthetic sutures as much as possible.
How is organ donation done?
Anyone over the age of 18 and in good mental health can become an organ donor. In order to be a donor in organ donation, which is based on volunteerism, health directorates, organ donation coordinators of public and private hospitals or health centers should be applied. After completing the organ donation form at these points, an organ donation card is given to the donor. Information that the person is a donor is entered into the Organ and Tissue Donation Information System of the Ministry of Health. Since the family will make the final decision after the donor’s brain death, it is extremely important to share the information that the organ donor wants to donate his tissues and organs with his family. A person can stop being an organ donor at any time by applying to the same institutions and organizations. Organ donation week, celebrated on November 3-9 every year,
As an organ donor, you can give one or more people a chance to survive. You can get more detailed information about organ and tissue donation by applying to the nearest health institution, and you can become an organ donor by applying to the relevant places.