DONATE ORGANS: ANSWER THE CALL!By Dr Amit Dias, MD

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DONATE ORGANS: ANSWER THE CALL!By Dr Amit Dias, MD

An Organ Donation Day Special!

Every August 13, the world highlights one of the most extraordinary acts of human kindness — organ donation. This year’s theme is “Answering the Call.” “It reminds us that every time we pledge to donate our organs, we are responding to the silent cries of those waiting for a second chance at life,” says Dr Amit Dias in this thought-provoking article

THE current crisis…
• India is battling a severe shortage of donated organs. The numbers are alarming.
• 5 lakh people die each year in India due to non-availability of organs.
• Around 1.5 lakh people await kidney transplants, but only about 5,000 receive them.
• Every 10 minutes a new name is added to the transplant waitlist.
• 15 people die every single day while waiting for an organ that never comes.

The shortage is not because the technology is lacking — transplants today are safe and advanced — but largely because of lack of awareness and myths that prevent people from pledging their organs.

A journey through history:
The story of organ donation is one of courage, science, and compassion.
In 1954, Ronald Lee Herrick became the first living donor, giving his kidney to his twin brother in a groundbreaking surgery performed by Dr Joseph Murray. This landmark transplant opened the doors for modern organ donation. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for his pioneering work.
In India, National Organ Day was first celebrated on November 27, 2010 and initiated by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare through the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) to spread awareness.
In 2023, the date was shifted to August 3, marking the anniversary of India’s first successful deceased-donor heart transplant on August 3, 1994.
August 13 is globally observed as World Organ Donation Day, reminding us how generosity can transcend life itself. Each one of us has the opportunity to make the change and answer the call.

What Research in Goa Says…
A study led by Dr Amit Dias, Aman Rajadhyaksha and team from Goa Medical College & Hospital examined the barriers to organ donation. The findings revealed:
• 10% believed organs could be bought or sold — completely false. Organ trade is illegal and strictly monitored.
• Some feared doctors might purposely declare someone brain dead to retrieve organs — also false. Brain death is diagnosed by an independent medical board under strict legal protocols.
• Many thought their body would be disfigured — but the surgery is done with utmost care, preserving appearance.
• Others believed chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease made them ineligible — yet many with such conditions can still donate.
• Some assumed they were “too old” — but age is not a barrier. Corneas and skin can even be donated from someone over 100 years old.
• A few feared costs to the family — organ donation is completely free for the donor’s family.
• Religious concerns were common — yet all major religions support organ donation as an act of compassion.
• There was also a perception that “the rich get priority” — but organ allocation follows strict medical criteria, not wealth or celebrity status.
• This research makes one thing clear: myths form a major barrier and contribute to the shortage of donors.
One donor, many lives saved…

One person’s decision to donate can:
Save more than 8 lives through organ transplants.
Improve dozens more through tissue donation — such as corneas restoring sight, skin helping burn victims, or bone saving orthopedic patients.
Thanks to medical advances, a wide range of organs and tissues can be transplanted: kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, cornea, small intestine, skin, bone, heart valves, veins and even hands.

How to donate…
There are two ways to donate:

Living Donor Organ Donation
While alive, a person can donate:
One kidney (the other will continue functioning).
Part of the liver (it regenerates).
Part of the pancreas.
Deceased Donor Organ Donation
After brain death, multiple organs can be donated at once. This is where the greatest potential lies, but it requires consent from the next of kin and timely medical coordination.

Organ vs Tissue — what’s the difference…
Organ: A structure with a specific function, such as the heart, kidney or liver.
Tissue: A group of cells serving a function, such as bone, skin, cornea or heart valves.
Both can transform lives.

Eligibility to donate…
Living donor: Any healthy person 18 years or older who voluntarily consents.
Deceased donor: Any person of any age, once declared brain dead following strict legal procedures, can be considered.
Age limits vary by organ — kidneys and liver up to about 70 years, cornea and skin even from centenarians.

Overcoming the myths — a reality check….
Let’s address some common myths head-on:

Myth: “They might not try to save me if I’m an organ donor.”
Truth: Medical teams work to save your life first. Organ retrieval is only considered after death is declared under strict rules.
Myth: “I’ll be too old or sick to donate.”
Truth: Medical suitability is decided at the time, not by age or many illnesses.
Myth: “My religion doesn’t allow it.”
Truth: All major faiths endorse organ donation as an act of charity.
Myth: “It will disfigure my body.”
Truth: The surgery is respectful, and the body’s appearance is preserved for funeral rites.
Myth: “Only the rich will get my organs.”
Truth: Allocation is based on medical need, blood type, and waiting time, not wealth.

How to pledge…
Pledging your organs is simple:

Fill Form 7 available online – https://forms.gle/e52ENLLqSWQxjUXWA
Inform your family and next of kin — their consent will be needed at the time of donation.
Receive your Organ Donor Card from the State Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation in Goa.
The theme this year — “Answering the Call” urges each of us to respond to the urgent need for organ donors. Right now, there are people — children, parents, friends — waiting for a call that will change their lives. Your decision to pledge could be the reason that call comes.

Your decision matters….
Every pledge narrows the gap between life and death for those waiting. It gives someone’s child a chance to grow up, a mother more time with her family, a patient a new lease on life.
By donating your organs, you can live beyond your life — and there’s no greater legacy.

A call to action…
On this Organ Donation Day, take a moment to imagine:
• A young man regains his sight because of your cornea.
• A mother survives because your liver gave her a second chance.
• A child can run and play again because your heart kept beating in their chest.
These are not abstract possibilities — they are real outcomes made possible by people who said “Yes” to organ donation.

So, pledge today. Talk to your family. Share your decision. And become a part of the movement to Donate Organs & Save Lives.
You won’t just be remembered — you’ll keep living in the hearts, minds, and bodies of those you save.