Download FAQ-Organdonation-August2010

Frequently Asked Questions regarding organ and tissue donation:
Question: What is the difference between organ and tissue donation?
Answer: The heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas are regarded as organs.
Organ donors are brain dead. A brain dead person is on mechanical support (ventilator) to ensure that
all organs are maintained through adequate blood supply while a suitable recipient is being prepared. All
donated organs must be carefully matched between donor and recipient. Matching is done according to
tissue compatibility.
Corneas, sclera, heart valves, musculo-skeletal bone, skin, tendons and cartilage are regarded as
human tissue.
Tissue is removed after the donor has passed away. The tissue donor may (or may not) be the same
person as the organ donor. No tissue compatibility is necessary in the case of tissue transplant,
therefore anyone can donate tissue and anyone can receive tissue.
Question: Are bone transplants common?
Answer: Bone tissue transplants are the second most common transplant performed on patients,
second only to blood transfusions.
Question: In which cases are bone transplants done?
Answer: Bone transplants are commonly used in the orthopedic, reconstructive, dental, neurosurgical,
and plastic surgery, performed by medical specialists in their fields of specialty:
 Many patients suffer bone loss as a result of trauma or injury, joint replacement or arthritis
 Some patients with tumors face possible amputation, but can be helped with allograft bone
 In spinal fusion, allograft bone plays a very important role in supplementing and supporting the
patients own bone
 Treatment of some periodontal diseases affecting the jaw and gums require bone tissue
 Tendons are used to restore function to injured limbs.
Question: Who cannot be a bone tissue donor?
Answer: Any one between the age of 16 and 80 years may donate bone tissue. There is however
several factors that render donated tissue unsuitable for transplantation. Any one of the following
conditions would disqualify a potential donor:
 Death of unknown origin
 Hepatitis and Cancer
 HIV or sexually transmitted diseases
 Alzheimer's
 Multiple sclerosis [MS]
 Any form of active infection/sepsis
Question: How does anyone become a donor?
Answer: The best way to ensure that your wish to become an organ/tissue donor is carried out is to tell
your family about your intention. Most people don’t like to talk about the fact that we will all die at some
point and therefore avoid discussion about important issues like organ/tissue donation. If the bereaved
family knows how the person felt, the decision to donate will be so much easier. Prospective donors
should also keep their donor cards with them at all times.
Question: Are medical tests required to be a donor?
Answer: No, you need not have any tests done in order to become a donor. During the retrieval,
however, blood tests will be done to screen and test for transmittable diseases, thus guaranteeing the
safety of the tissue to the recipient. The results of all medical tests are treated with utmost
confidentiality.
Question: How much will tissue donation cost the donor’s family?
Answer: Nothing. All costs involved with the retrieval process are carried by the Centre.
Question: Is there any imbursement for donation?
Answer: No reward will be given, monetary or otherwise, direct or indirect to the donor, the donor's
estate, the donor's relative or any other person before or after the donor’s death.
Question: The donor is somebody’s loved one. Will he/she be treated with dignity?
Answer: Only professionals are employed and they are bound by very strict codes of conduct to ensure
that each donor is treated with the utmost respect and dignity. A prosthetic device is placed in the area
where tissue has been removed to ensure no disfigurement of the donor’s body.
Question: How confidential are the arrangements regarding organ/tissue donation?
Answer: All medical test results will remain confidential and are placed on record at the various
organ/tissue transplant organisations. The organisations involved are operating within the framework of
medical and ethical standards as well as applicable national legislation, which protects your privacy. No
information regarding donors and recipients will therefore be divulged.
Question: Will tissue donation delay the donor’s funeral arrangements?
Answer: Not at all. It is standard practice to retrieve tissue without compromising the funeral
arrangements.
Question: Where can I find out more about bone tissue donation?
Answer: Please phone: Sandra van den Berg at 012-349 3500 or 082 325 3448 to discuss your
questions and concerns to help you make an informed decision.
Question: Where can the tissue transplant be used?
Answer:
 Corneas can restore sight where blindness has been caused by corneal disease.
 Sclera can be used where there has been eye trauma.
 Heart valves can benefit patients with congenital heart valve defects or heart valve disease.
 Bone tissue is used to fill a void created by trauma or cancer. This bone takes the place of
damaged or diseased bone, or can stimulate new bone growth into the affected area.
 Skin is used as a dressing on a burn patient to prevent infection and promote quicker healing with
less scarring.
 Tendons are used to restore function to an injured limb.
Question: Are bone transplants common?
Answer: Bone tissue transplants are the second most common transplant performed on patients,
second only to blood transfusions.
Question: In which cases are bone transplants done?
Answer: Bone transplants are commonly used in the orthopedic, plastic, reconstructive, dental and
neurosurgical procedures performed by medical specialists in their fields of specialty.
Question: What is the difference between bone tissue and bone marrow?
Answer: Bone tissue is the skeletal bones in the arms and the legs. Bone tissue is retrieved mainly from
non-living donors. Bone marrow (stem cells) can be donated by living donors only. To find out more
about Bone marrow donation, please contact:
Sunflower Fund
0800 12 1082 (toll free)
Bone Marrow Registry
Tel: (021) 404 6445
Fax: (021) 404 6395
South African National Blood Transfusion Services
Tel: (011) 761 9227/8
Question: Who cannot be an organ/tissue donor?
Answer: There are several factors that render donated organ/tissue unsuitable for transplantation. Any
one of the following would disqualify a potential donor:
 Death of unknown origin
 Disease of the central nervous system
 Hepatitis
 HIV or sexually transmitted diseases
 Prior to donation a complete medical and social history of the donor will be obtained to exclude
any donor with a high-risk life style.
Question: Where can I find out more about organ/tissue donation?
Answer: Please phone any of the organisations below where you can discuss your concerns with highly
trained professionals dedicated to helping people make an informed decision. The organisations that
may be contacted for further details are the following:
Organ donor foundation: 0800 22 66 11 or www.odf.org.za
Centre for Tissue Engineering: 012 349 3503 or www.bonedonation.org
NB. If a body is not suitable for any of the transplant purposes discussed above, it may be utilised for
medical research and for the training of medical students – our doctors of tomorrow. Specialists might
also practice operations and new techniques to perfection on such tissue.
AMNION MEMBRANE DONATION
Question: What is the amnion membrane?
Answer: The amnion membrane is the thin membrane that covers and protects the placenta and baby
before it is born.
Question: Who can donate amnion membrane?
Answer: The amnion membrane is retrieved after the delivery of a baby by elective caesarean section.
The whole placenta is taken, the membrane removed and the remaining tissue disposed of.
Clinical applications: The amnion membrane is used in ophthalmic surgery and plastic surgery, and
also to treat chemical and other burns and skin ulcers.
SPECIFIC INFORMATION
EYES
 Persons between the ages of 2 and 70 can donate
 Persons with cancer can donate eye tissue
 One donor can help up to four persons to regain their sight
HEART VALVES
 Donations are accepted from 6-month old babies to adults who are 65 years of age
 Persons with specific heart diseases are deferred as potential donors
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One donor can benefit up to three persons
Specific exclusion criteria:
 History of infective endocarditis
 History of rheumatoid heart valve disease or hereditary heart disease
 Heart valve diseases
 Previous heart surgery
Clinical applications:
 Children with congenital heart diseases/disorders
 Any person needing a heart valve transplant
BONE AND RELATED SOFT TISSUE
 Bone tissue can successfully be retrieved up to three days after death
 Persons between the ages of 16 and 70 can donate
 Persons with any of the following are deferred as a donor:
 Any form of cancer
 Alzheimer's
 Multiple sclerosis [MS]
 Any form of active infection/sepsis
 One donor can benefit several persons
SKIN
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Persons between the ages of 16 and 70 can donate
Persons with any of the following are deferred as a donor:
Any form of cancer
Alzheimer's
Multiple sclerosis [MS]
Any form of active infection/sepsis
One donor can benefit up to two persons