How does it work? Organ Donation

If you are weary about becoming an organ and tissue donor maybe more information about the process would ease your anxiety. The process is a little different for organ and tissue donations.
An OPO is the organ procurement organization and hospitals are required by law to contact this organization before any further action in the organ donation process can take place when a patient is available to become a donor. The patient will then be evaluated for donor suitability – a medical and social history assessment is conducted. Usually the patient is being kept alive by ventilator at this time after being pronounced brain dead, but in some cases organ donations can occur after a cardiac death.
The Ohio Donor Registry database is then checked to check the donor’s official donation wishes or the family is consulted. At this point of consent the patient is eligible to become a donor. If found to be an appropriate donor the OPO contacts the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) to match the organs with a proper recipient. Recipients are found and paired with an organ based on size, blood type, need and region. Because of the limited time between surgical organ recovery and transplantation the most appropriate beneficiary for each organ is located and contacted before the surgical recovery procedure begins.
Once the surgery is prepared the ventilator is disconnected. During the surgical recovery process of the organs it is assured the donor is treated with respect and dignity. After the operation, the organs are quickly and carefully transported to transplant centers where the UNOS identified recipients are waiting to receive their transplants.

Check in again soon to learn about the difference between organ and tissue donation.

Written by Madison Bender