FAQ - Organ donation

	The Gift of Life
back to top                                             back to top                                           back to top                                           back to top		frequently asked questions Organ & tissue donation is a subject which raises many questions.  Click on the links for answers. Who can be a donor? What is organ donation? What are the organs & tissues that can be donated? When are the organs & tissues removed? Will my hospital treatment be affected if they know that I am a donor? Are there any religious objections? How are the organs removed? What if I change my mind later? Will the process of organ donation delay the funeral arrangements? How can I become a donor? Who can be a donor? Anyone, young and old can sign up to be a donor. Individuals below 18 years of age will need parental/guardian consent. What is organ donation? It is the gift of ones body parts after death for the purpose of transplantation. Transplantation is an operation, which involves the replacement of diseased and defective organs & Tissues with healthy ones from donors. This treatment helps save lives of people. Organ and tissue donation is the ultimate humanitarian act of charity. What are the organs & tissues that can be donated? The commonly transported organs are kidneys, heart, liver, lungs and pancreas while the transplantable tissues are eyes, bone, skin and heart valves. Thus a single donor can save the lives of a number of people. When are the organs & tissues removed? Only when death has been confirmed by two registered doctors. The doctors involved with certification of death are not involved in the transplant operation at all. Will my hospital treatment be affected if they know that I am a donor? Absolutely not. The doctors will undertake every known measure to save your life right till the end. Only when they have exhausted all ways and means to save your lives will the question of organ & tissue donation be discussed with your relatives. Are there any religious objections? No. All the major religions of the world -- Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism endorse organ & tissue donation as the ultimate act of charity and benevolence. How are the organs removed? The process of organ and tissue donation involves a sterile surgical operation undertaken by a skilled team of surgeons. There is no mutilation or disfiguration of the body. The donor is treated with utmost respect and dignity as in any operation. Following removal of the organs and tissues, the surgical wound will be closed just as in any other operation. What if I change my mind later? Organ donation is voluntary and if at any point you decide against donating your organs and tissues, all you have to do is to inform your family about it and return your donor card. Will the process of organ donation delay the funeral arrangements? Not at all. Arrangements for funeral can be made as in any case of death. Following the removal of the organs and tissues, the body will be cleaned & draped and returned to the family within the shortest possible time. Removal of organs and tissues does not interfere with the customary funeral or burial including open casket arrangements. How can I become a donor? Simply complete a donor pledge form and forward the form to the National Transplant Resource Center. You will receive a registration card from the Center. Please inform your family of your wish to be an organ and tissue donor.  For further information, contact: The National Transplant Resource Center, Hospital Kuala Lumpur 03-2615-5555 ext 6576 (Hospital KL) or 03-26942705. C -O -N -T -E -N -T -S BACKGROUND gives you a brief description how this Organ Donation Campaign came about and why we champion this cause to increase the number of organ & tissue donors in Malaysia. FAQ attempts to anwer questions frequently raised on organ and tissue donation. LINKS offer additional resources for organ donation related web sites. SIGN UP! is a form to pledge your organs & tissues. back to top