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Organ Donation Guide: How To Register For Organ Donation In India?

Organ Donation Registration in India

What Is Organ Donation?

The process of surgically removing an organ or tissue from one person (the organ donor) and implanting it into another person is known as organ donation (the recipient). One requires transplantation when the recipient's organ fails or gets damaged due to disease or injury. According to experts, one donor's organs can save or help up to 50 people. Internal organs such as the kidneys, heart, liver, pancreas, intestines, and lungs are among the organs that you can donate. Skin, bone and bone marrow, and the cornea find themselves included. The majority of organ and tissue donations occur after the donor has died. Some organs and tissues, however, can be donated while the donor is still alive.

Law Governing Organ Donation In India

The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, India's primary organ donation and transplantation legislation, was passed in 1994 and is aimed at regulating the removal, storage, and transplantation of human organs for therapeutic purposes, along with the prevention of commercial dealings in human organs. The following are some of the Act's main provisions:

  • Brain stem death has been identified as a type of death. The process and criteria for certifying brain stem death have also found a definition.
  • Allows for the transplantation of human organs and tissues from living and deceased donors (after cardiac or brain stem death).
  • The establishment of regulatory and advisory bodies to monitor transplantation activity and their constitution.

Eligibility Criteria For Organ Donation In India

Organ donation has no age restrictions. It can begin as early as six weeks. But generally, people above 18 years of age get considered to be eligible for organ donation. The only thing that matters is the state of your organs. You can donate all your organs and tissues, including your heart, kidneys, lungs, corneas, and pancreas. Even living organ transplants remain a possibility, particularly in the case of kidneys, where it is possible to live a healthy life with just one kidney.

Types Of Organ Donation

Every day, people die while waiting for an organ transplant. Organ donors can save the lives of transplant recipients. In general, organ donation means removing an entire organ or a portion of an organ from a donor and giving it to someone in need of a transplant. You can donate organs such as the liver, heart, lung, kidney, intestine, and pancreas. Living donation and deceased donation are the two types of organ donation.

Living Organ Donation:

This is when an organ is removed from a healthy living person and transplanted into the body of someone with end-stage organ failure. It commonly gets performed for liver or kidney failure (because the liver can grow back to its usual size, and a donor can survive on one kidney). Living donors are classified as either close relatives or distant relatives/friends, and so on. A spouse, son/daughter, brother/sister, parents, grandparents, and grandchildren are examples of close relatives. Other than close relatives and friends, those who wish to donate organs must obtain permission from the State Authorization Committee. If the hospital refuses to hear such cases, the patient may file a legal notice against the hospital for failing to follow the Transplant Act.

Deceased Organ Donation:

Deceased Organ Donation is what we mean when we talk about pledging your organs for donation or organ donation after death. It is an organ donation from a person who has been declared brain dead by a hospital's team of authorized doctors. If there is an irreversible loss of consciousness, the absence of brain stem reflexes on the EEG, and the irreversible loss of the ability to breathe, a person is said to be brain dead. Many believe that their organs can be donated whenever and however they die. That is not correct. Organ donation after death only gets permitted in India in the case of brain death. Donation after cardiac death is typical in the West, but organ donation post-cardiac death is uncommon in India. Although you can easily donate organs such as the liver and kidney from a living donor to a recipient, we should strive for a world in which everyone pledges their organs after death (if they can) so that no breathing person gets forced to donate an organ to another.

History Of Organ Donation

Ronald Lee Herrick donated a kidney to his identical twin brother in 1954, making him the first person to do so. Doctor Joseph Murray carried out the procedure, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1990 for his contributions to organ transplantation. In 2015, a newborn baby became the world's youngest organ donor when he donated his kidneys to an adult suffering from renal failure. The boy lived for only 100 minutes after birth. The oldest known donor was a 107-year-old woman from Scotland who donated her cornea after her death in 2016. The oldest known internal organ donor was a 95-year-old West Virginia man who donated his liver after death.

Organ Donation Awareness in India

India is experiencing a severe shortage of transplantable organs. More than a million people are estimated to have end-stage organ failure, but only a few of 3,500 transplants get performed each year. Every day, at least 15 patients die while waiting for organs, and every 10 minutes, a new name gets added to the list. Without a doubt, the demand for organs far exceeds the supply. And no one is immune to the harsh reality. The only way out of this depressing situation is to raise awareness about organ donation. The more potential donors there are, the more likely organs will be available to save lives. Unfortunately, very few people in India are aware of organ donation or how they might be able to assist after their death.

Organ Donation Facts

The lack of awareness of organ donation in India has led to higher demand and a lower supply of organs for those in need. There remains a wide gap between patients who need transplants and the availability of those organs in India. Here are some facts that exhibit the reality of organ donation in India; take a look.

  • 2,00,000 corneal donations are needed annually. However, only 50,000 corneas are donated every year.
  • 5,00,000 people need organ transplants every year, but the numbers do not get met.
  • India's organ donation rate is one of the lowest in the world.
  • For the 50,000 heart transplant requirement, the availability stands at 339 hearts.
  • 2017 recorded the lowest deceased organ donation figure in India in recent times.

Organ Donation Registration Process In India

It is a simple procedure to donate your organs. You will have to complete the online pledge form, and the organization you register with will send you a donor card containing your unique government registration number. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization record all pledges (NOTTO). Registering as an organ donor is simply a statement of intent to be an organ donor. The card that will get sent to you has no legal weight, but it is a great way to show everyone your intention. So keep it with you at all times and make sure to inform your family and friends of your decision. According to Indian law, your next of kin will decide whether or not to donate your organs after your death. Even if you have pledged your organs, no donation will happen unless your next of kin consents. As a result, when you get sworn to be an organ donor, you must discuss your decision with your family. It will allow your family to fulfill your wishes if the need arises.

Here are some more details on the organ donation procedure:

1. Donor Registration

Donation usually starts with agreeing to be a donor by registering your name in the national registry and informing your family. It is the first step toward potentially saving lives.

2. Brain Death Examination

If the patient does not respond to treatment or stimuli, doctors will run various tests to see if brain death has occurred. A brain-dead patient has no brain activity and cannot breathe on their own. Brain death is fatal and irreversible. Only patients who are brain dead can become potential organ donors.

3. Donation Authorization

The healthcare authorities determine the registration of the deceased as a donor on their registry. In India, consent from the family remains a requirement for organ donation, and the family has the final say.

4. The process of matching

Medical experts determine whether the organ is medically suitable for transplantation. For complementing an organ to an appropriate recipient for transplant, the doctors perform several tests on various parameters.

5. Recovery of Organs

Following the removal of the organ, surgeons connect it to a machine that keeps it working artificially. Doctors take great care when removing organs.

6. Organ Transportation

Surgical teams work around the clock to coordinate the transplant between the retrieved organ and the recipient. A green corridor gets built to facilitate an organ transplant in some cases. It is a delineated, cleared-out road route created for an ambulance to allow the retrieved organ intended for transplant to arrive at the destined hospital on time.

Organ Donation Success Rate in India

Despite the government recognizing the need for organ donation, there is an extensive demand for organs and a limited supply. Organ donation in India is only just getting started due to a lack of awareness, spiritual belief in life after death, and generally negative attitudes toward organ donation.

According to India's Statistical Data for 2015, only 5,000 kidney transplants got completed in response to a demand for 1.75 lakh transplants. Only 1000 people received transplants even though 50,000 died of terminal liver disease. These statistics are even more concerning in organs such as the heart and lungs. Every year, approximately 0.5 million people in India die from causes that could easily get avoided if organ transplants had been available. Organ donation rates in India are 0.01 percent, a pittance compared to countries such as Croatia, which has a rate of 36.5 percent, and Spain, which has a rate of 35.3 percent.

Need For Organ Donation

Even when an individual can save up to eight lives, there is a significant gap. The key to increasing organ donor ratios in India is raising awareness. Here are some numbers:

  • 500,000 people die due to organ shortages
  • 200,000 people die from liver disease
  • 50,000 people die from heart disease
  • 150,000 people wait for a kidney transplant
  • 10,000 lakh people suffer from corneal blindness

Importance Of Organ Donation

You will find many people on the organ transplant waiting list at any given time. Unfortunately, there are fewer available donor organs than people waiting. Some people die while awaiting a transplant. Some people spend weeks or months in the hospital, while others visit the hospital several times weekly for treatment. People who require an organ transplant are typically very sick or dying due to one or more of their organs failing. Many people on the organ transplant waiting list have a congenital or genetic condition, an illness, or a sudden organ failure that will make them extremely ill and require a transplant. We never know when a family member, friend, or coworker will become sick and need a transplant.

Why Should We Donate Our Organs?

5,00,000 people die as a result of organ shortages, 200,000 as a result of liver disease, and 50,000 as a result of heart disease. Furthermore, 150,000 people are waiting for a kidney transplant, but only 5,000 get chosen. The organ donor can make a significant difference in the lives of others. The donor's organ can get transplanted to a patient who desperately needs it.

Objectives Of Organ Donation

The primary objective of organ donation is to help those in need of that organ and save their lives. Due to the acute shortage of organ availability in India, creating awareness of how organ donation helps others facing ailments and diseases get a new lease on life remains imperative. Whether it's a living organ donation or deceased, it will help those desperately in need of an organ to live life normally. Essentially, one cannot overstate the importance of organ donation and transplant. The lack of organ donations remains one of the vital issues faced by the Indian healthcare industry. So, if you believe in organ donation or stay convinced of its advantages, follow the registration process and enroll yourself.

Organ Donation FAQs

It is no secret that organ donation may seem skeptical at first. However, if you ask the right questions and get valid answers, you can enroll yourself for organ donation and help save the lives of those in need. Here are answers to some of the most asked questions about organ donation.

Q1. Which Organs Can Be Donated?

You can donate any of the following organs - Liver, Kidney, Pancreas, Heart, Lung, and Intestine - if you wish to register for organ donation. You can also register for tissue donation.

Q2. How To Donate Organs After Death In India?

You have to fill out an online form and register for organ donation. You can also download the form, fill it up, and send it to the national authority. You can find the detailed registration process and donation procedure mentioned above.

Q3. Who Cannot Donate Organs?

After death, everyone is a potential organ and tissue donor. However, cancer, HIV, infection (such as sepsis), or intravenous (IV) drug use will preclude donation. Patients with Hepatitis C may donate organs to another Hepatitis C patient. The same is true for Hepatitis B, but only in rare cases. Most cancer patients are eligible to donate their corneas.

Q4. Which Country Has The Lowest Organ Donation Rates?

Despite having one of the world's most innovative healthcare systems, Japan has the lowest rate of organ transplants (out of the OECD countries). There are numerous reasons, including outdated laws (which make obtaining consent from families difficult), conservative cultural beliefs, and religion. Japan is primarily a Shinto country, with numerous followers believing that the body should not get divided after death.

Q5. Can Diabetics Donate Organs?

Yes, if the organs are functioning normally. However, a person with diabetes may not be able to donate organs while living. An insulin-dependent diabetic person cannot donate a pancreas but could donate other organs. Research is still ongoing, and only one's healthcare provider or doctor can determine whether they are eligible to donate organs if they have diabetes.

Q6. What Is The Age Limit For Organ Donation?

There is no age limit as such, but people above 18 years of age can register themselves for organ donation.

Q7. What Is The Most Common Organ Donation?

The kidney remains the most common organ donated across the globe due to its high demand for transplants. It gets followed by the heart and liver, among other organs.

Q8. Can Leukemia Patients Donate Organs?

According to the guidelines, you cannot donate blood if you have had cancer because there is a theoretical risk that a cancer cell will get passed on through the blood. There is no evidence to support this claim. It is primarily a precautionary measure.

Q9. Can Lupus Patients Donate Organs?

Lupus patients may or may not be able to donate organs. HIV infection and Creutzfeldt-Jacob syndrome are the only two absolute contraindications. Blood clot issues (antiphospholipid syndrome) are one factor why healthcare professionals may hesitate in treating lupus patients.

Q10. Is Organ Donation Safe?

You will find risks associated with any surgical process. If you opt for living organ donation, speak with your healthcare provider before registering as a donor to ensure you are not at risk and do not pass on any threat to the person receiving your organ.

Q11. How Do I Register For Organ Recipients?

If you require an organ transplant, your doctor will either register your name in the hospital they are associated with or give you further information on where you can get an organ transplant. At DPU Hospital, you will find highly-trained and experienced medical professionals who will help you with organ transplantation and the recovery process.

Q12. Do Organ Donors Get Paid In India?

Any exchange of money during a living organ donation process is illegal in India and is a punishable offense.

Conclusion Of Organ Donation

People of all ages and with any medical history can become donors thanks to recent medical advances. However, the final decision gets made after doctors examine the donor's medical condition. Many people are in desperate need of vital organs to live. Given the number of people who die every day, the lack of organ donors is a situation you can avoid. Consider giving another person life even in death - and saving a life.

Apply For Organ Donation

If you want to donate your organs, you can do so by filling out a form on the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) website. However, once you register as a donor, remember that your donor card is not a legal entity or an official document. It is simply an expression of your desire to donate. The card that we will send you has no legal weight. However, keep it with you and inform all of your friends and family of your intended choice. If you wish to speak with an experienced medical professional about organ donation, you can contact us, and the experts at DPU Hospital will guide you through the process.