The Mayo Clinic dispels 10 donation myths
Summary Statements of Various Religious Groups About Organ and Tissue Donation
Donation and Transplantation Stats
• More than 103,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S. More than 600 of them are 5 years old or younger.
• There are almost 400 people in the Intermountain Donor Services area on the national waiting list and 25 of those are under 17 years old.
• On average, 133 people are added to the nation’s organ transplant waiting list each day—one every 11 minutes.
• Approximately 78 organ transplants take place every day in the U.S.
• Sadly, an average of 18 patients die every day while waiting, simply because the organ they needed did not become available in time.
• More than 28,000 patients began new lives last year thanks to organ transplants.
• More than 1 million tissue transplants are done each year and the surgical need for tissue has been steadily rising.
• Annually, there are more than 25,000 tissue donors and 70,000 cornea donors.
• On average, a single tissue donor can save or enhance the lives of up to 50 people.
• Approximately 39,000 patients had their sight restored last year through
cornea transplants.
• A living donor can provide a kidney or a portion of their liver, lung, pancreas
or intestine.
• Almost two-thirds of all living donors are relatives of their recipient, most
commonly siblings.
• The number of unrelated living donors has more than tripled since 1998.
• The number one priority of medical staff is to save the life of their patient.
The decision to be an organ donor will not affect your medical care.
• You may still be able to donate organs even if you are unable to donate blood.
• People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential
donors. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what
organs and tissue can be donated.
• One in 10 deceased donors is age 65 or over.
• All major religions support organ, eye and tissue donation as an unselfish act
of charity.
• It is important to let your family know your wishes.
