More Americans Express Willingness to Donate Organs,
Still 18 on Waiting Lists Die Daily
Survey finds number willing to donate organs rises,
but still not keeping pace with need - lack of understanding the process
a problem
90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know
the essential steps to take to be a donor.
April 5, 2010 An estimated 18 people die daily in
the U.S. waiting for a transplant of some kind, but 43 percent of people
are still undecided, reluctant or do not want their organs or tissue
donated after their death, according to Donate Life America.
This is an improvement over findings from a similar
survey last year in which 50 percent were on the negative side of making
a donation.
The statistic illustrates a critical need to
continue to increase the level of support for organ donation to save the
lives of the more than 105,000 adults and children on the transplant
waiting list, according to the organization.
Following are some of the highlights of the survey.
● Among respondents who report being registered
donors, the reason provided by more than half (53 percent) is to help
others in need.
● For the undecided, reluctant or those who do
not wish to have their organs and tissue donated, the most common
reasons were not being sure they'd be acceptable donors (19 percent),
haven't decided (15 percent) and want to keep their organs and be buried
whole (8 percent).
"We are encouraged by the increased willingness of
Americans to register as donors," says Donate Life America Chair Helen
Bottenfield.
"With the huge and growing need for organs, our
hope is to save the greatest possible number of lives." April is
National Donate Life month and Donate Life America is encouraging people
to visit
www.donatelife.net
or
www.facebook.com/donatelife to learn more and to register.
Learn the facts
Despite continuing efforts at public education, misconceptions
and inaccuracies about donation persist. Learn these facts to
help you better understand organ, eye and tissue donation:
Fact:
Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or
medical history.
Fact:
All major religions in the United States support organ, eye and
tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and
generosity toward others.
Fact:
If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the
number one priority is to save your life. Organ, eye and tissue
donation can only be considered after you are deceased.
Fact:
When you are on the waiting list for an organ, what really
counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting,
blood type, and other important medical information, not your
financial status or celebrity status.
Fact:
An open casket funeral is possible for organ, eye and tissue
donors. Through the entire donation process the body is treated
with care, respect and dignity.
Fact:
There is no cost to the donor or their family for organ or
tissue donation.
Fact:
Signing a donor card and a driver's license with an "organ
donor" designation may not satisfy your state's requirements to
become a donor. Be certain to take the necessary steps to be a
donor and ensure that your family understands your wishes.
The online survey of 5,100 U.S. adults, which was
supported by Astellas Pharma US, Inc., also uncovered some pervasive
myths regarding donation.
● The majority (52 percent) of respondents were
open to the idea that doctors may not try as hard to save their lives if
their wish to be organ donors is known;
● 61 percent are open to the idea that it is possible for a brain dead
person to recover from his or her injuries, and
● 8 percent believe that organ or tissue donation is against their
religion.
"It's important for people to know the facts," says
David Fleming, president and CEO, Donate Life America.
"For health professionals, the number one priority
is always to save the lives of their patients, and only after death is
organ and tissue donation considered. While you can recover from comas,
brain death is permanent, irreparable. And, there are no known religions
in the U.S. with a position against donation; rather, all major
religions support organ donation as one of the highest expressions of
compassion and generosity."
The Media and Donation
Past research has found that the mass media may be
partly to blame for misperceptions about organ donation, according to
Donate Life.
However, the survey points to a possible positive
effect from the recently cancelled TV drama "Three Rivers," a medical
show that aired on CBS during the fall 2009 season and featured organ
transplants through three points of view: the doctors, the donors and
the recipients.
Twelve percent of survey respondents had watched at
least one episode, and of these, 58 percent said it made them feel more
positive toward organ or tissue donation while only 2 percent said it
made them feel more negative.
"That means the show led nearly 7 percent of
Americans to feel more positive toward donation. And, the survey showed
a 6 percent overall increase over the past year in the number of people
interested in being donors, so there may be a correlation," said
Fleming.
To encourage the entertainment industry to be part
of the solution and not the problem, Donate Life Hollywood will host its
second annual Film Festival encouraging accurate and inspiring
storylines June 11-12.
Additional survey findings include:
● More than three-fourths of adults (78 percent)
correctly realize there are more people who need organ transplants in
the U.S. than the number of donated organs available.
● 61 percent of adults would donate the organs or
tissue of a family member if they died suddenly without indicating their
wishes.
● The number of African Americans who wish to
donate all their organs and tissue has increased to 41 percent versus 31
percent in 2009 encouraging news as African Americans comprise nearly
35 percent of the national kidney transplant waiting list.
● Most adults (61 percent) believe TV shows and
movies have a public responsibility to portray organ and tissue donation
and transplantation in an accurate way.
The survey was fielded through Survey Sampling
International, one of the largest providers of online panels in the
U.S., during January 2010 on behalf of Donate Life America. The online
survey of 5,100 U.S. adults included a sample size of 100 in each state
plus the District of Columbia. The aggregated nationwide data was
weighted to reflect the relative proportion of the U.S. adult population
in each state. The sample was controlled to match the U.S. population as
a whole on age, gender, education, income and ethnicity.
About Donate Life America
Donate Life America is a non-for-profit alliance of
national organizations and state teams across the United States, serving
as a national voice and inspiring all people to save enhance lives
through organ, eye and tissue donation. For more information, visit
www.donatelife.net
or
www.facebook.com/donatelife.
About Astellas
Astellas is a recognized leader in transplantation
and has been committed to the field of immunology for more than 20
years. Dedicated to supporting the advancement of care for patients,
Astellas continues to build upon its legacy and leadership in
transplantation by investing in ongoing clinical research and new
product development.
Astellas Pharma US, Inc., located in Deerfield,
Illinois, is a U.S. affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc.
Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to "Changing tomorrow" by
improving the health of people around the world through innovative and
reliable pharmaceutical products. The organization is committed to
becoming a global category leader in focused areas by combining
outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities. In the US, Astellas markets
products in the areas of Anti-Infectives, Cardiovascular, Dermatology,
Neuroscience, Transplant and Urology. For more information about
Astellas Pharma US, Inc., visit at www.astellas.us or
www.AstellasTransplant.com
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