April is National Donate Life month. Are you an organ donor? If you are, thank you on behalf of a child or adult who will benefit from your generosity.
If you are not, why not? Perhaps you just haven’t thought about it. You’re young and immortal, after all, right? Wrong. Or perhaps you have some misgivings based on lack of information. Since you’re all in midterm mode, I’ll use the familiar True/False test mode to educate you. Don’t worry, it’s open book.
Question 1: There are more than enough organs in the organ banks. They don’t need mine, too.
Answer 1: False. Every day, 18 people in the U.S. die for lack of a donated organ that could have saved their life. That’s almost 7,000 a year, one every 80 minutes. In New Mexico, about 1,000 people are on the list, but only about 50 people a year actually donate organs.
Question 2: My family will get hit with a big bill for harvesting my organs.
Answer 2: False. There is no cost to the donor’s estate or family for organ donation and associated expenses.
Question 3: If I’m injured or sick, they won’t try as hard to save me if they see I’m an organ donor.
Answer 3: Totally False. What do you take doctors for, a bunch of unscrupulous mercenaries? Well, whether you do or not, it’s still false. If you get mortally wounded or terminally ill, all efforts will be made to save you. Only after everything has been done and doctors have declared you officially brain dead will your organs be harvested. The only people who profit from your gift are the recipients, whose lives may be saved.
Question 4: My religion forbids it.
Answer 4: Probably false. Most major religions have nothing against this life-saving practice. Some leave it up to the individual while condoning the practice, and some outright encourage it as an act of human benevolence in keeping with their doctrine.
Question 5: I have to be dead to donate my body parts.
Answer 5: Creepy, I know, but false. You can donate blood, bone marrow and even more while you’re still alive. I know someone who gave part of her liver to save her brother’s life.
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Question 7: I’m too _______ (young, old, sick, damaged, etc.) to donate my organs.
Answer 7: By now you’ve caught onto the answer pattern here. Yep, this one, too is false. There are no age limits on organ donations, and while some of your organs may not be usable, others might be. Possibilities for transplant include cornea, kidney, heart, liver, lung, pancreas and intestines. Surely at least one of those is in decent shape. Don’t let your age or health status stop you from donating.
Question 6: If I donate organs, I won’t be able to have an open-casket funeral.
Answer 6: Also false. Your organs are inside you, remember? They can be surgically removed with no outward visible effects and you will still look peaceful and whole.
Question 7: I can just tell my family to sell my organs.
Answer 7: False. Don’t even think about it. Buying and selling organs is illegal.
I know it isn’t easy to think about dying, and deciding to donate your organs means admitting you could die an unplanned death. Unfortunately, unplanned death happens all the time. I hope it doesn’t happen to you anytime soon, but if it did, wouldn’t you like to know that someone’s life could be saved even as yours was lost?
Register to become a donor at or get more info at DonateLifeNM.org
Peggy Spencer is a student-health physician. She is also the co author of the book 50 ways to leave your 40s. Email your questions directly to her at pspencer@unm.edu. All questions will be considered anonymous, and all questioners will remain anonymous. This column has general health information and cannot replace a trip to a health provider.
