Q: What does Donor Designation/First Person Consent include?
A: Signing up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry – or making any “document of gift,” such as a will or advance directive – authorizes the recovery of organs, tissues and eyes for transplantation, therapy, research and education after death. The gift is always used first for transplantation or therapy, to save or enhance lives.
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Q: What does transplant, therapy, research and education mean?
A: Transplantation refers to the grafting of an organ into the body of an individual, such as a heart transplant. Therapy involves the use of donated tissue to treat a disease or medical condition, such as donated tendons to help heal sports injuries. Research and education use organs and tissues to gain knowledge about their function. The Donor Registry does not apply to whole body donation for research.
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Q: Can a person indicate specific organs and/or tissue for donation under the Donor Registry?
A: The Donor Registry applies to all organs and tissue. Because of ongoing medical advancements, the types of organs and tissue can change. Requests regarding specific organs and tissue should be handled in an advance directive.
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Q: Hospitals have to notify their state’s Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) if someone dies. What if the person is in hospice and dies at home? How is the OPO contacted, and what is the procedure if the person has requested to be a donor?
A: If a person dies at home or in hospice, the OPO is not required to be notified. However, if a person is on the Donor Registry, the OPO must be contacted by the family or hospice nurse in order for the donation to proceed.
For more information about eye, organ and tissue donation and how you can become a registered donor, call the Michigan Eye-Bank at (800) 247-7250 or visit www.IJoined.org
