Organ & Body Donation

Many people wish to contribute to the furthering of knowledge or to help others after they die. One way to do that is by leaving money to institutions or charitable organizations. Another way is by donating specific organs and tissues, or donating the entire body.
Given that most people have trouble even thinking about making decisions about their own health care and end-of-life care (advance care directives) or funeral arrangements and talking about their thoughts, wishes and decisions with family and friends, it is no surprise that talking about donating one's body, or pieces of it, is also difficult for many to do.
Most of us know about the critical shortage in key transplant organs and body parts such as kidneys, livers, hearts, lungs, and corneas, but did you know that skin, vessels, and tendons play critical roles in helping traumatically injured and sick people get well again? For those who are squeamish about parts of themselves being implanted in others, there is still a need for human tissue and organs in research.
As with so many things in life, the altruism underlying organ and body donation has been tainted by a few who saw a way to make a profit out of someone else's bequest. So, as with learning the ins and outs of the funeral industry itself to ensure you and your loved ones aren't taken for a final ride by the undertaker, if you are considering organ or body donation (and we hope you are), RFS provides the following information to help you learn more about it and to be aware of problems that have occurred in the recent past.