Organ Donation Speech by: Jason Caldwell Good morning, my presentation is going to be on the positive aspects of organ donation. First, I will explain the background and history of organ donation. Second, I will explain the importance of being an organ donor, and finally I will talk about the scientific importance of organ donation in our future. Back in the 1950’s, the very idea that an organ could be transplanted from one human being to another must have seemed like science fiction.
It became a reality, however, when the first successful kidney transplant was performed on December 23, 1954, in Boston Massachusetts. In the years since, over 400,000 people in the U. S. have received new organs, including kidneys, hearts, lungs, livers, cornea, and more. Prior to 1954, doctors were frustrated in their early attempts at organ transplantation. The biggest obstacle was rejection of the new organ. The human immune system, which fights off germs and other foreign substances in the body, would also perceive the new organ as a foreign “intruder”, and would attack it.
Transplant patients would survive only a few days orweeks before their new organs failed. Over the last fifty-five years, surgeons have learned how to transplant all of the major body organs, and even some non-vital parts, such as a hand. These advances in surgery along with the development of anti-rejection drugs have extended the lives of many people. Organ transplants are now performed routinely in many countries, a fact which early transplant surgeons and the general public would probably never have imagined.
More than 100,000 men, women, and children currently need life savingorgan transplants. An average of 18people die each day from the lack of available organs. 90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% have taken the essential steps to be an organ donor (www. donatelife. net/facts_stats. html). These statistics show that people who are waiting for organ transplants have a good chance at being saved and get what they need. The sad truth is though, because of the lack of people willing to donate organs, many people will continue to wait for organs to save their lives.
Waiting lists of patients for organ transplants become longer as the need for transplantable organs increases. Donating your organs is a very personal decision and there are those who oppose the idea of someone using their organs after they are gone. The fact is that if tragedy strikes, in death, we can help another person live. Finally we’re going to talk about the importance of donating our organs or entire bodies to science. Many people feel that it’s distasteful or even vulgar to donate their bodies to science.
The truth is, however, that in donating themselves to science people can be certain that after they are gone they will still be helping our surgeons and medical students save many more lives in the future. The donor would help in improving surgical procedures or the development of new procedures. Reduction of surgical scarring, patient recovery time, and chances of infection would also be studied. The development of new and improved medical devices would be tested, and dangerous medication interactions would be identified.
In conclusion, organ donation is something that we should all seriously consider. Organ donation has been saving the lives of people since the 1950’s. It’s more important now than ever before that people donate their organs because of the advances in medical science. Most of us trynot to think very much about our own deaths, but it’s an inevitable part of life. If in our own unfortunate death we can help another person live, then why not be an organ donor? In short, being an organ donor is a selfless act towards humanity. Thank you.
