ORGAN DONATION : Caters Empathy & Generosity
“ As a person puts on new garments giving up the old ones, the souls similarly accepts new
material bodies , giving up the old useless ones.” Says the Bhagwad Gita. This proves that the
concept of Donation of Organ is in vogue from the olden times.
It is in your hands to pass on your life to someone who is in dire need of it. This goes on to
explain that the process is entirely voluntary in which a person willingly offers an organ of his
body to another person. We all should pledge to donate our organs to give life to a needy
individual. This also ensures the continued contribution of an individual towards society’s well-
being even after his death.
Procedure : Here, healthy tissues or organs are extracted from an individual ( alive or brain
dead) & transplanted to another needy person, (legally ), either by consent, while the donor is
alive or with the permission of the donor’s family, in case of a dead individual. In this way,
another person’s life can be saved with organ donation.
Benefits : Donated organs offer a very good tool for conducting scientific researches &
experiments. Many medical discoveries have resulted after he/she have engaged themselves in
Organ Donation Campaign. Organ Donation can improve the quality of life of an individual : a
timely eye transplant has helped a person to see again. Organ donation has also contributed
to by-pass the extravagant routine medical treatments. Benefits of Organ donation have been
seen in the field of Biotechnology as well.
Impact on society: Organ Donation is considered a noble gesture….a good initiative. It ensures
the continued contribution of an individual towards society’s well being , even after the
individual’s death. Organ Donation inspires and has been found to rekindle the faith of humans
in one another. This act not only saves the life of the needy individual, but also positively
influences the recipient’s quality of life. Organ transplant recipients frequently experience
renewed vigour & the capacity to excel/dominate in previously impossible activities.
Hindrances/Inhibitions : The absence of public awareness and understanding is quite a barrier
to the noble cause of organ donation. Besides, cultural & religious beliefs impact perceptions
and decisions regarding organ donation. Also, fears about medical procedures involved (in live
cases of organ donation) and the life thereafter , contribute significantly, against the cause of
organ donation.
Steps to generate confidence regarding organ donation : Integrating Organ Donation education
into school curriculum can inculcate empathy & concern at an young age. Starting a helpline ,
where accurate yet sensitive information ( in order to build trust & confidence) can be shared.
Initiatives centred on open dialogue(one to one conversation) & education can help to dissipate
any misconceptions. Workshops or seminars are effective tools that can be taken help of, for
spreading awareness and drive away misconceptions such as incomplete recovery or any
deformity. Interacting with different cultural communities and learning about their traditions &
beliefs may help to a great extent in debunking the myths associated with the procedure.
Building trust through transparency and empathy is essential for breaking down these barriers.
Finally, one can say that Organ Donation Awareness and other education initiatives hold the key
to saving lives. A
