The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network reports that over 100,000 people are listed on national registries for organ transplants. The need for organ donation is escalating as new patients sign up every day. Registering as a living organ donor can assist recipients with a kidney or sections of a lung, pancreas, liver or intestine. Prospective organ donors should consider the disadvantages of the donation process such as medical risks, medical costs and psychological complications.
Medical Risks
One of the largest disadvantage to living donation is that major surgery is required for the donor. Donating certain organs or tissues through surgery usually includes risks from bleeding from incisions, blood clots, infection due to wound exposure and anesthesia-related side effects such as nausea and headaches, according to the Mayo Clinic. Major surgery for organ donation involves time away from work, hospitalization and medications to control potential risks for infection. Individuals who are considering organ donation should evaluate the medical risks associated with organ donation.
Medical Costs
Medical costs of transplant and donation are usually covered by the recipient's insurance. Donor's costs that might not be covered include travel fare to the transplant center, lodging accommodations during testing, physical examinations before and after donation, lost wages during recovery, medical treatment of disease or medical complications and other non-medical expenses. The U.S. organ and tissue regulatory agency does not allow donors to receive or accept monetary contributions for organ donation.
Psychological Concerns
Many organ donors experience psychological complications after donating an organ or tissue. Anxiety and depression are common because of the surgery recovery process and because concern and attention often shifts to the organ recipient after the surgery. The United Network for Organ Sharing recommends that prospective donors have a strong support system, such as family and friends to help them deal with psychological complications after organ donation. If the the organ is rejected by the recipient's body or the recipient fails to fully recover after surgery, grief can be substantial for the organ donor.
