ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Organ donation is a life-saving act that benefits hundreds of people in need of a transplant. However, some people may be hesitant to become an organ donor due to the various myths and misconceptions surrounding the organ donation process.
“We will never block available life-saving treatment. That is a huge stigma and misconception,” said Santok Gil, president and CEO of LifeCenter Northwest.
These myths include fear of receiving inadequate medical care, the belief that organ donation is against religion, and the belief that one is too old or too ill to donate.
As for the first myth, Gill said organizations like LifeCenter Northwest only intervene when a patient is given a serious prognosis.
“That means the doctors and nurses at that hospital are doing everything they can to save your life,” Gill said.
Another myth, Gill says, is that high profile people can jump the list.
“Being rich and famous doesn’t get you to the top in this country,” he says.
There are currently more than 100,000 people on the transplant waiting list in the United States, and more than 100 in Alaska.
That’s why organizations like the organ procurement nonprofit Life Center Northwest want to educate potential donors and spread the word about the beneficial effects of organ donation.
Gill said anyone can register as an organ donor, regardless of age, health or religion. He also said that organ donation does not affect the quality of funerals because the body is altered by organ removal.
“People have concerns about what we call the integrity of the body. And that’s not really the case, most donors can’t see the casket if you choose to.” he said. “We make a lot of effort to preserve the integrity of the body after the organs are removed.”
To learn more about organ donation, how to register, or find answers to other myths, visit: Life Center Northwest.
Copyright 2024 KTUU. All rights reserved.
