The Philippines and Organ Donation

Often times though, it isn't the religion but the person itself who thinks it is forbidden. In the Philippines, it is a fact that all organized religions support donation, which is characteristic of a generous act - an individual's choice. Questions about whether or not one is of the right age to become an organ donor is apparently being asked, the answer is, someone as young as a newborn can be an organ donor. Age limits for organ donation no longer exists, however, the general age limit for donors donating tissue is seventy.

There also are questions leaning on the paranoid where a potential donor thinks that should he be in an accident or other life threatening situation and the medical respondents know that he wants to be a donor, the doctors will no try to save his life. This is absolutely untrue. The medical team treating any type of patients' goal is to use all life saving efforts to save the patient. The transplant team, which is separate from the medical team treating a patient, is not notified until a patient has been certified as brain dead. And that is not until the patients' family has consented to donation.

As new as organ donation may seem, or as foreign, to the Filipino culture, what everyone should bear in mind is that organ donation is equivalent to saving lives. Aside from that transplant can also be ‘life-enhancing'. When one loses his or her eyesight we can only imagine the devastation that person goes through. Giving the gift of sight to someone such as this person can mean another shot at life, a rebirth that can only be a dream if we don't become more open to the idea of organ donation.

Here's a quote from the ‘The Eye Bank Foundation of the Philippines' website:
"the scene was a sad and all
too common one, a person gone blind, usually, young and
poor...
...in need of a corneal
transplant to restore his sight;
a doctor technically skilled to
do so but helpless
nonetheless...
simply because of the utter
lack of precious cornea
tissues"

Is it not worth it to give someone else a chance if you yourself can call it a good life and are ready to move on from this earth?
The Organ Donor Card Project was conceived by an organization called the ‘Human Organ Preservation Effort' other wise called H.O.P.E. to help relatives make the decision to donate. It is said to be not the equivalent of a legal consent document as of the prevent time however it can help relatives of the donor realize that their kin has consented before hand and that perhaps his wishes be respected.

A properly filled up Organ Donor Card indicates a person's willingness to help someone even after his passing. The card serves as a personal consent form for organ donation and indicates to both medical personnel and relatives (if it hasn't been discussed with them yet) that this individual is willing to donate his or her organs for transplant. Le it be reiterated that the presence of such a card on an individual does not mean that aggressive life-saving measures will not be performed in the event of an emergency.

A fact to note, the Philippines having a population of approximately 76.4 million people, according to the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, has only four Transplant Coordinators for the entire country. From the listing of H.O.P.E's website* they are:
Helen F. Alonzo, RN - Supervisor
Maria Aurora A. Yusi, RN
Marilou L. Garcia
Maria Paz C. Jose - Secretary
*I suggest you visit the H.O.P.E website as well for first hand information at his link:
Another website which also acted as my reference and worthy of visiting for more information on being an eye donor is from this link.

Below is what the organ donor card and eye donor card look like.

I encourage everyone from the mildly curious to the one's who really want know to ask and find out more, after all no one can give you pressure about matters such as this and only you can truly have the power to decide whether or not you would like to donate your organs.