MYTH: Medical teams will not bother to save my life if they know I am an organ donor.
FACT: All patients and their life and heath are the main concerns of medical practioners and therefore everyone receives the best possible care.
MYTH: If I am in a coma, medical teams will want my organ/tissues.
FACT: Patients in a coma do not qualify as potential donors as they still posses brain activities and are therefore not dead.
MYTH: Only the wealthy, famous, or people of a particular race receive transplants.
FACT: Organ transplants recipients are selected on the basis of medical urgency, how long they have been on the waiting list, body size, blood composition and othe such necessary compatibilities. They are not chosen or declined because of race, sex or financial state.
MYTH: My organs/tissues may be sold.
FACT: If organs/tissues are not used they will not be sold as it illegal to buy or sell human organs and/or tissues.
MYTH: I won't be able to have a normal funeral; my body will not be presentable; therefore my family and friends will not be able to see me again to say goodbye.
FACT: Surgery to remove the organs/tissues occurs as carefully as if the person was alive. All funeral arrangements can proceed without any interruption and be carried out in the same manner.
MYTH: My religion will not approve of my organ donation.
FACT: Most major religions support the notion of organ donation, because it is recognized as a charitable act - A gift of life.
MYTH: Donation is painful for the donor's family.
FACT: Organ donation can often bring comfort to a grieving family when a loved one dies, because of the knowledge that live have been saved.
MYTH: I do not want/do want my identity to be released to the family.
FACT: Information concerning identity is only released to the recipient if the donor's family agrees that it may be provided. Confidentiality decisions are made by the donor or family.
