Organ Donation Myths

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Organ donation myths have been around for a long time. These types of myths have stopped people from being organ donors as well as stopping families from letting there loved one receive a needed organ transplant. These myths are one of the main reasons for the organ shortage in the United States today. While some people decide to save another humans life some do not because of these myths surrounding organ donation. One person has the opportunity to save up to fifty lives just by deciding to be an organ donor and doing so would help with the organ shortage in the United States. One myth that stops somebody from being an organ donor is the belief that the family will be charged extra too allow their loved one to be an organ donor (Steve Rudich)., people that believe they will be charged extra for this procedure do not allow their loved one to become an organ donor in fear of extra expenses added onto an already high medical bill in addition to having the funeral and burial expenses as well (Steve Rudich). According to the Kidney Caucus all of the costs that are related to the medical procedure required to remove organs and tissue will be paid for by the donor program and not the donor family. If a family was to receive a medical bill for the procedure from the hospital or an insurance company they should contact that agent immediately because it is a mistake (Congressman Jim McDermott). A second myth for some people is that when a doctor declares a person dead it is because that will die soon and actually that they were not dead at all (Nancy Valko 2). Some people believe that their loved one is still alive when they hear and see their loved one breathing while hooked up to a machine that is breathing for them (Nancy Valko... ... middle of paper ... ...): 230-236. Egendorf, Laura k. "Organ Donation." Egendorf, Laura K. Organ Donation Opposing views. Greenhaven press, 2009. 21-22. Fugen, Goz, Mustafe Goz, Medine Erkan. "Issues in Clinical Nursing." Knowledge and attitudes of medical, nursingm dentistry and health techniciian students towards organ donation: a pilot study (2005). Hope, Deb. Ryans Hope. December 2007. 27 March 2010 . Lynch, Elizabeth. Organ Donation. New York: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Nancy Valko, RN. "Organ." Should we be dying to donate 20 (2005): 1-3. Steve Rudich, MD, PhD, FACS. Net Wellness. 24 April 2009. 6 March 2010 . Yang, R. Thiessen-Philbrook, H Klarenbach, S. "Insurability of Living Organ Donors." American Journal of Transplantaton (2007): 1542-1551.

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