Will the body be mutilated?
No. The organs will be carefully removed and the body stitched up again. It can be viewed by the family and have an open casket funeral.
Couldn’t my loved one get better?
No. Only people who are brain dead – ie legally dead – can be considered as organ donors. This is different to being in a coma. They will never wake up.
Will medical staff do everything they can to save my loved one?
Yes. Intensive care specialists are committed to saving lives, whatever it takes. The doctors involved in testing for brain death have nothing to do with organ transplantation, so there’s no conflict of interest.
What organs can be taken?
Organs that can save another’s life include heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and lungs. Tissues include corneas, heart valves, skin and bones.
Can I say yes to some organs but not others?
Yes. You can stipulate which organs may be taken for transplant. There is an option on the Australian Organ Donor Register for people to indicate which organs and tissue they wish to donate.
Can the organs be used for any other purpose?
No. Separate and specific consent must be given for organs or tissue to be used for science or research.
Will it cost anything?
No. Even if the death occurred in a private hospital, there are no costs involved in becoming an organ or tissue donor.
Does my religion say I can’t become an organ donor?
A recent literature review of 28 religions practised in Australia confirmed that only two – Shinto and Rominy – found organ donation unacceptable. All of the others either encouraged organ donation, said it was acceptable, or regarded it as an individual’s choice.
Will the recipient be able to track my family down?
No. If they wish, the family may be told which organs were successfully transplanted. It is against the law for the names of donors or recipients to be given to each other.
I lived in the UK for several months and I can’t donate blood. Can my organs be donated?
Yes, in some cases. The decision will be made by medical staff at the time of the donation.
THE PROCESS
1. Brain death is established. The patient is legally and ethically dead – there is no brain function. However the organs are still functioning because the life support system is enabling the heart to continue to pump oxygen around the body. A second doctor confirms the diagnosis and a death certificate is signed.
2. If the family agrees, an organ donation co-ordinator is contacted. He or she will assess the suitability of various organs for transplant and contact hospitals to find matching recipients.
3. The family may be asked for medical information that could affect donation. Usually, organs are not suitable if the patient had HIV/AIDS or if they had cancer that had spread through the body. Age and other health considerations usually don’t matter.
4. The donor is taken to theatre for the removal of the organs. This is usually around 14 hours after brain death is diagnosed – and almost always within 24 hours. He or she is treated with utmost respect, like any other patient. After surgery, the body is stitched up and can be viewed by the family just like any other deceased person.
5. The organs and tissues are cooled using ice and other preservation solutions, and transported to the hospitals where the recipients are waiting.
6. The organ donation co-ordinator follows up with the family. If they wish, they may receive de-identified information about the recipients. The organs and tissue from one person can save 10 lives, as well as giving the gift of sight to two people.
Email your queries to our panel of donation and transplant experts
