Helping people in need is a practice we should adopt, and there are many ways to help, including making a donation. When it comes to donation, we can donate material things, such as money and other items. Besides these, we can also donate certain organs and tissues to those in need as well, and help save a life! If you’re wondering just what are the organs and tissues you can donate, keep reading to find out!
Organs You Can Donate
Different countries have different regulations regarding organ donation, and in Malaysia, these are the organs you can donate:
- Heart
- Lungs
- Liver
- Kidney
Tissues You Can Donate
Besides organs, you can also donate some tissues, including:
- Eyes (corneas)
- Bones
- Skin
- Heart Valves
All information taken from the Ministry of Health’s MyHEALTH Portal.
Types of Donation
However, you can’t just sign up and donate them all whenever you choose to. There are two different types of donations, and again, regulations differ by countries, and here’s what Malaysia’s regulations are. The first type is a living donation, where you donate an organ/part of an organ while you’re still living. The other type is a cadaveric donation, which means that your organs are only donated after death.
Living Donation
You can only donate part of your liver or one of your lungs as a living donor, and you can’t donate them to just anyone either. In Malaysia, you can only donate to close blood relatives, or someone you have a close emotional relationship with, such as your husband or wife. Donors will have to undergo tests and screenings to ensure that they get a clean bill of health, as well as to check for compatibility with the recipient.
Cadaveric Donation
There are two different classifications of death: brain death and cardiac death. Cardiac death is what people call “normal” death, when your heart stops beating and you pass on. Brain death, on the other hand, is where there is no circulation of oxygen and blood to the brain, which ends all life-supporting functions such as heartbeat and breathing. Ventilators can keep the body “alive” for a period of time, but eventually it will shut down. Brain dead donors can donate their heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, eyes (corneas), bone and skin. Those who experience cardiac death can donate their eyes (corneas), bone, skin and heart valves. For those who pass on at home, only the corneas are donated.
In certain countries, the pancreas, intestine, hands, faces, tendons and middle ear can be donated as well.
How Do I Become An Organ Donor (Cadaveric)?
You can fill up a form at any government hospital, or simply fill up this form, following all the instructions on it. Those below the age of 18 will require written permission from parents/guardians. Organ donors are also encouraged to tell their family members about their wish to donate organs after they die to help facilitate consent from families.
