Who benefits from organ and tissue donation?
Transplanted organs and body tissue help to save and improve lives. Those on waiting lists may need: • Lungs, heart, liver, pancreas or kidneys • Corneal grafts to restore failing eyesight • Skin to treat serious burns • Bone, when bone grafting is necessary • Heart valves for use in heart surgery. At any time thousands of Australians require organ and tissue transplants, with several hundred at risk of dying if they are unable to receive a transplant. What organs and tissues can I donate? A number of your organs and body tissues can be donated. Organs include: • Kidneys and liver • Heart and lungs • Pancreas. Body tissues include: • Heart valves • Bone and skin • Corneas from your eyes. When can organs and tissues be used? Organs can only be used in special circumstances. People who donate organs have been declared ‘brain dead’ in hospital. Usually, they have been on a ventilator in intensive care. Will I really be dead? You must be declared dead before your organs and body tissues ca
