1. Donate Life An Introduction to Organ and Tissue Donation

2. Donate Life Richmond Partnership United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Donate Life America LifeNet Health Old Dominion Eye Foundation 2

3. Rumor Has It… Currently, there are more than 116,000 patients awaiting an organ transplant in the United States. True. There are more than 116,000 patients in need of an organ right now. Someone is added to the national waiting list every 13 minutes.

4. Rumor Has It… If I am admitted to the hospital and there is a heart on my driver’s license they will not attempt to save my life or will take my organs before I am really dead. False. Medical professionals will do everything they can to save your life. The doctors who work to save your life are not the same doctors involved with organ donation.

5. Rumor Has It… The more famous and rich you are, the sooner you will receive an organ for transplantation. False. The patient that receives a transplant is the one who is most in need and has the best chance of not rejecting the organ.

6. Rumor Has It… A person can recover from brain death with proper medical treatment. False. Brain death is death. No medical treatment can reverse brain death. When all brain activity has ceased, breathing and heart function can no longer continue independently.

7. Rumor Has It… Most major religions oppose organ and tissue donation. False. Leading members of all major religious organizations support organ donation as a virtuous and charitable act.

8. Rumor Has It… I have a signed donor card in my wallet and my decision is in my will, so I don’t need to do anything else to declare my decision to donate. False, there are two ways you can legally declare your decision to donate—at the DMV on your drivers license or visiting our online registry DonateLifeVirginia.org

9. Organ and Tissue Donation Works The organ and tissue donation process can save or greatly enhance lives Transplant survival rates keep increasing Recipients go on to live normal, healthy lives

10. The Need More than 116,000 patients are on the waiting list nationwide More than 3,000 of these are Virginians. Sadly, about 18 patients die daily and a Virginian dies every other day waiting for a life-saving organ.

11. Who can be an organ and tissue donor? Everyone should consider themselves a potential donor. Your medical condition will be evaluated at the time of death to determine what can be donated.

12. Organ Transplantation Heart Lung (2) Kidney (2) Pancreas Liver (2 parts) Intestine A kidney and a portion of the liver can be donated by a living individual as well

13. Brain Death The complete and irreversible cessation of all functions of the brain. Brain death is death. It is NOT the same as being in a coma. Specialized physicians complete complex testing to declare brain death.

14. Conditions that Cause Brain Death Brain aneurysm Stroke Head trauma from motor vehicle accidents Fall Gunshot wound Drug Overdose Drowning Poisoning

15. Tissue Transplantation Blood vessels and heart valves Bone Corneas and sclera Pericardium Fascia Cartilage Skin

16. Donation Process Accident or illness Transport Emergency room Intensive care unit Identification of impending brain death – or cardiac death declared Referral and evaluation

17. Donation Process Continued Donor designation Family medical social interview Organ placement Organ and tissue recovery Funeral arrangements Follow-up

18. Matching Donors and Recipients Blood type Tissue type Body size Length of time on the waiting list Severity of illness Geographical location

19. How to Sign Up Visit www.DonateLifeVirginia.org. Fill out the paper application. Designate decision at DMV. Share your decision with your family.

20. www.DonateLifeVirginia.org