|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The
information on this page is also available in a folder suitable for printing. The term anatomical gifts refers
to eyes, organs, tissues, or entire bodies that are donated to medical
organizations for transplantation or instructional and scientific purposes.
These gifts are used in many surgical procedures that improve or save
people's lives, as well as in medical research and instruction. Donated
bodies are indispensible in medical research and the education of physicians
and dentists. Many opportunities for anatomical donation are available at no
cost to donors or their families. If you want
to be a donor, it is best to make arrangements in advance, and it is
important to inform your family about your plan. It is also important to have
a backup plan in case for any reason your gift cannot be accepted. Organ Donation If you want
to donate your eyes and/or organs at the time of death, you need only check
the organ-donor box on your driver license or fill out and carry an
organ-donor card. Registration with an organization that accepts anatomical
donations is advisable but usually not essential. When a person has indicated
in writing his or her wish to donate organs, health care providers usually
also seek the family's permission before removing organs. The cost of surgery
to remove donors’ organs for transplantation is borne by transplant
recipients. If a person
has arranged to be an organ donor and has an alternative arrangement for
whole body donation, then organ donation has priority if the person dies in
circumstances that permit extraction of viable organs. A body from which
organs have been removed is not acceptable for donation to a medical school
for instruction. If a would-be organ donor dies in circumstances that do not
permit organ donation, his or her family can arrange for whole-body donation. Body Donation A person
who wants to donate his or her body to a medical institution or organization
should make arrangements with the chosen organization. The receiving
organization should be called at the time of death. Many receiving
organizations provide transportation at no cost to donors’ families. In some instances
a family must employ a funeral director to provide transportation. Most people
can donate their bodies. Donors must be at least 18 years old. There is no
upper age limit, and few medical conditions disqualify a body. A donation may
be refused if an autopsy has been performed or if the donor is exceptionally
obese or had a communicable disease that could pose a safety hazard to people
working with the body. If you want to be a donor, then make the arrangements
and inform your family. The New York State Department of Health maintains a directory of organ-procurement organizations, tissue banks and eye banks. Health Care Proxy and Living Will forms are available at the website of the New York State Attorney General http://www.oag.state.ny.us/bureaus/health_care/pdfs/EOLGUIDE.pdf. Medical schools and other anatomical gift
programs serving the Finger Lakes region of New York State
Two organ
and tissue procurement organizations that operate nationally are: Please contact us
if you have any questions about the FCA of the Finger Lakes or any information
in this site. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
