Download Organ and tissue donation

2011
Organ and Tissue
Donation
Looking for more health information?
Contact your local public library for books, videos, magazine articles and online health information.
For a list of public libraries in Nova Scotia go to HTTP://publiclibraries.ns.ca
Capital Health promotes a smoke-free and scent-free environment.
Please do not use perfumed products. Thank you!
Capital Health, Nova Scotia
www.cdha.nshealth.ca
Prepared by: Critial Care Organ Donation Program, QEII, Halifax©
Designed and Printed by: Capital Health Audio Visual and Printing Departments
The information in this brochure is provided for information and education purposes only.
The information is not intended to be and does not constitute healthcare or medical advice.
If you have any questions, please ask your healthcare provider.
WX85-0470 Rev.07/2011
The information in this pamphlet is to be updated every 3 years.
The bones are hard, strong tissues that make up our
skeleton. Bones are used in many different kinds of
surgeries such as fracture repairs, spinal surgery and
removal of tumours.
Tendons are used to repair many sports related injuries.
The heart valves control the flow of blood in and out of
the heart. They are commonly transplanted into
individuals who have defects of the heart.
For further information contact:
Critical Care Organ Donation Program
902-473-5523
[email protected]
Or contact the
Regional Tissue Bank
902-473-7360
For more information go to:
www.legacyoflife.ns.ca
(The Nova Scotia Organ & Tissue Donation Program)
4
The Donation of Organs and Tissues
Health care providers want to ensure that eligible families
are offered the option of organ and tissue donation.
Organ and tissue donation are only
considered when the patient has died or
death is imminent.
Many Nova Scotians have confirmed
their wish to be an organ and tissue
donor on their Nova Scotia Health
Card. Others have chosen to make
their wishes known to their families.
If a person is an eligible donor but
their wishes are not known, their family
will be asked to give consent for donation.
Many families find that donation is a source of comfort
through their grieving process. If you are asked to make
the decision for a loved one, health care providers will
support you no matter what decision you make.
The recovery of organ and tissues is done in an operating
room with the same standards, respect and expertise that
are needed in other surgeries. There is no impact on
funeral arrangements or on your ability to have an open
casket. There are no costs to the family in relation to the
donation.
The donation of organs and tissues is anonymous. The
recipients of the organs and tissues will not know the
identity of the donor. The donor’s family will not know
the identity of recipients. The donor’s family will be
1
contacted to ask if they would like to take part in a Gift of
Life Ceremony to honour their loved one.
Transplantation
Transplantation is the only treatment for many people.
Over 3500 Atlantic Canadians have received life giving
organ transplants since 1969. Thousands have received
life enhancing tissue transplants. In Atlantic Canada,
many people are waiting for organ and tissue transplants.
Organs that are donated in Atlantic Canada are
transplanted into recipients from Atlantic Canada, unless
there is a life or death situation somewhere else in the
country. In those cases, and when there are no local
recipients, organs may be sent to other centres in
Canada. Organs are only sent to the United States if there
are no Canadian recipients.
Donated tissue is made into life enhancing and life saving
grafts, which are stored at ultra low temperatures for
future use. Tissue grafts donated in Atlantic Canada are
used in hospitals throughout the country to improve the
quality of life for thousands of people. These hospitals
provide Capital Health with funds to cover the costs for
transportation, testing, processing and storage of the
tissue grafts. Donated tissue is not provided to the United
States.
Can I donate an organ or tissue?
Every person is a potential donor. Age is not always
important.
Organs and tissues are assessed for suitability at the time
2
of a person’s death. Organ and tissue donation is
voluntary. Please make your wishes known. Organ and
tissue donation is a generous gift, “The Gift of Life”. An
organ and tissue donor can save many lives.
These organs can be donated
The kidneys make urine. They clean the blood and
control the amount of water in the body.
The pancreas makes insulin. A kidney and pancreas
transplant is often done together.
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood
throughout the body.
The liver is an organ that removes harmful substances
from the blood stream. It also makes bile that helps digest
fats and absorb some important vitamins.
The lungs are the breathing organs in the chest. In
Canada many lung transplants are done each year.
The small bowel is the organ that connects the stomach
to the large bowel. It absorbs nutrients from the food we
eat.
These tissues can be donated
The cornea is the tissue that covers the front of the eye. It
looks like a contact lens. The cornea protects the eye from
germs and dust. It allows light to enter. Transplants are
done to restore vision and relieve pain.
The skin protects us against germs and gets rid of wastes
that our bodies produce through sweat. It also helps to
keep us warm. Skin grafts are used on burn patients.
3
contacted to ask if they would like to take part in a Gift of
Life Ceremony to honour their loved one.
Transplantation
Transplantation is the only treatment for many people.
Over 3500 Atlantic Canadians have received life giving
organ transplants since 1969. Thousands have received
life enhancing tissue transplants. In Atlantic Canada,
many people are waiting for organ and tissue transplants.
Organs that are donated in Atlantic Canada are
transplanted into recipients from Atlantic Canada, unless
there is a life or death situation somewhere else in the
country. In those cases, and when there are no local
recipients, organs may be sent to other centres in
Canada. Organs are only sent to the United States if there
are no Canadian recipients.
Donated tissue is made into life enhancing and life saving
grafts, which are stored at ultra low temperatures for
future use. Tissue grafts donated in Atlantic Canada are
used in hospitals throughout the country to improve the
quality of life for thousands of people. These hospitals
provide Capital Health with funds to cover the costs for
transportation, testing, processing and storage of the
tissue grafts. Donated tissue is not provided to the United
States.
Can I donate an organ or tissue?
Every person is a potential donor. Age is not always
important.
Organs and tissues are assessed for suitability at the time
2
of a person’s death. Organ and tissue donation is
voluntary. Please make your wishes known. Organ and
tissue donation is a generous gift, “The Gift of Life”. An
organ and tissue donor can save many lives.
These organs can be donated
The kidneys make urine. They clean the blood and
control the amount of water in the body.
The pancreas makes insulin. A kidney and pancreas
transplant is often done together.
The heart is a muscular organ that pumps blood
throughout the body.
The liver is an organ that removes harmful substances
from the blood stream. It also makes bile that helps digest
fats and absorb some important vitamins.
The lungs are the breathing organs in the chest. In
Canada many lung transplants are done each year.
The small bowel is the organ that connects the stomach
to the large bowel. It absorbs nutrients from the food we
eat.
These tissues can be donated
The cornea is the tissue that covers the front of the eye. It
looks like a contact lens. The cornea protects the eye from
germs and dust. It allows light to enter. Transplants are
done to restore vision and relieve pain.
The skin protects us against germs and gets rid of wastes
that our bodies produce through sweat. It also helps to
keep us warm. Skin grafts are used on burn patients.
3
The bones are hard, strong tissues that make up our
skeleton. Bones are used in many different kinds of
surgeries such as fracture repairs, spinal surgery and
removal of tumours.
Tendons are used to repair many sports related injuries.
The heart valves control the flow of blood in and out of
the heart. They are commonly transplanted into
individuals who have defects of the heart.
For further information contact:
Critical Care Organ Donation Program
902-473-5523
[email protected]
Or contact the
Regional Tissue Bank
902-473-7360
For more information go to:
www.legacyoflife.ns.ca
(The Nova Scotia Organ & Tissue Donation Program)
4
The Donation of Organs and Tissues
Health care providers want to ensure that eligible families
are offered the option of organ and tissue donation.
Organ and tissue donation are only
considered when the patient has died or
death is imminent.
Many Nova Scotians have confirmed
their wish to be an organ and tissue
donor on their Nova Scotia Health
Card. Others have chosen to make
their wishes known to their families.
If a person is an eligible donor but
their wishes are not known, their family
will be asked to give consent for donation.
Many families find that donation is a source of comfort
through their grieving process. If you are asked to make
the decision for a loved one, health care providers will
support you no matter what decision you make.
The recovery of organ and tissues is done in an operating
room with the same standards, respect and expertise that
are needed in other surgeries. There is no impact on
funeral arrangements or on your ability to have an open
casket. There are no costs to the family in relation to the
donation.
The donation of organs and tissues is anonymous. The
recipients of the organs and tissues will not know the
identity of the donor. The donor’s family will not know
the identity of recipients. The donor’s family will be
1
2011
Organ and Tissue
Donation
Looking for more health information?
Contact your local public library for books, videos, magazine articles and online health information.
For a list of public libraries in Nova Scotia go to HTTP://publiclibraries.ns.ca
Capital Health promotes a smoke-free and scent-free environment.
Please do not use perfumed products. Thank you!
Capital Health, Nova Scotia
www.cdha.nshealth.ca
Prepared by: Critial Care Organ Donation Program, QEII, Halifax©
Designed and Printed by: Capital Health Audio Visual and Printing Departments
The information in this brochure is provided for information and education purposes only.
The information is not intended to be and does not constitute healthcare or medical advice.
If you have any questions, please ask your healthcare provider.
WX85-0470 Rev.07/2011
The information in this pamphlet is to be updated every 3 years.