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Almost 110,000 Americans are registered on the
United Network for Organ Sharing waiting list
for donated organs, including over 700 people
on the waiting list in Kentucky.
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In 2010, approximately 22,000 successful organ
transplants were performed. It is estimated that
twice as many could have been performed if more
people donated organs.
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A new name is added to the waiting list every 11 minutes.
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By law, donation is the right of every American age 18 or
older. Hospitals are obligated by law, to identify potential
donors and to inform families of their right to donate.
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Every year, an estimated 6,000 people die while waiting for an
organ transplant. Eighteen people die each day due to the
lack of a donated organ.
Transplantable organs include the kidney, heart, liver, lung,
pancreas and small bowel.
Transplantable tissues include bone, cartilage, skin, corneas, heart valves,
saphenous veins, tendons and ligaments.
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Individuals may indicate their wish to be a donor by joining the
Kentucky Organ Donor Registry. An individual may go to
www.donatelifeky.org to register. Since Kentucky has First Person
Consent laws in place, an individual's wishes to donate will be
honored. For more information on how to register in your state go to
www.donatelife.net. |
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Acceptable donors range from newborn to senior citizens.
All major religions approve of organ and tissue donation.
One individual donor can provide organs, bone and tissue for nearly
50 people in need.
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All efforts are made to save a person's life regardless of whether
he or she has signed up on the Registry. Doctors involved in initial
care of a patient cannot be involved in donation or transplantation.
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An estimated 450,000 Americans are treated with transplanted bone,
tendon and ligament tissue each year.
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There is no extra expense for the family donating organs or tissues. KODA
pays all costs related to organ and tissue donation.
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About 50,000 cornea transplants are performed annually, with 5,000
people waiting for donated corneas.
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The donor's body is not disfigured by organ or tissue removal. An open
casket funeral is possible. No one should be able to recognize that the
individual was a donor.
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NOTE: Data subject to change due to future date submission or correction. Revised 04.2011
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