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September 1st, 2009
07:11 PM ET

Organ Donation: How you can help

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The United Network for Organ Sharing

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non-profit, scientific and educational organization that administers the nation's only Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), established by the U.S. Congress in 1984.

It is responsible for the following:

* collect and manage data about every transplant event occurring in the United States
* facilitate the organ matching and placement process using UNOS-developed data technology and the UNOS Organ Center
* bring together medical professionals, transplant recipients and donor families to develop organ transplantation policy

Go here to learn more about the organization and to find out how you can help.


Filed under: 360° Radar • Organ Transplant
soundoff (4 Responses)
  1. Mike

    Its fantastic that you have your support for organ donation documented, and occasionally that's all that's necessary to allow donation to occur. The majority of the time though, your next of kin must allow it, either implicitly, or more often with explicitly signing release papers. They must do this very soon after declaration of , while they are grieving. If they themselves do not understand organ transplant and donation, and support the process, donation will not occur. Your next of kin need to know your wishes.

    What's more important than indicating willingness to donate though is active support of organ donation. You will not be a donor. Conditions allowing donation are rare, and can't be predicted. You have a better chance of winning the lottery. In order to be sure that the families that can allow donation will support it the entire population has to understand that the altruistic donation process in the US, and most western countries, is fair as it can be, and is regulated according to laws that ensure that unethical and criminal conduct regarding organ donation and transplantation will be prosecuted.

    September 1, 2009 at 7:31 pm |
  2. Lori Higgons

    I am an organ doner. It says it right on my driver license. Heck, i don't need my organs after i die, but maybe they can help someone.

    September 1, 2009 at 6:32 pm |
  3. nivia leal

    soy medico y no estoy de acuerdo en cierto tipo de transplantes

    September 1, 2009 at 5:18 pm |
  4. Susan

    The fact that I am an Organ Donor is right on my driver's license.

    September 1, 2009 at 4:21 pm |