Donation Process
Lifesaving Care
Every effort to save the life of a person is made by
paramedics, nurses, doctors and other medical personnel whether or not the
individual has signed up to be a donor.
Call to
Donor Services
At the time of a person’s death or impending death, a call to
the donor program will determine the possibility of donation. The call can
be made by a family member, EMS, hospital staff, hospice, medical investigator,
or funeral home.
Donor Registration / Request
The Donate Life New Mexico Registry is checked to verify if
an individual has registered to be a donor on their driver's license,
identification card or online registration. If an individual has not
signed up to be a donor, a request for donation is made to the legal
next-of-kin. The organ and/or tissue donation process is explained to the
family. All costs associated with the donation process are paid for by the
donor program, New Mexico Donor Services and New Mexico Lions Eye Bank.
The family is never charged for any donation expense, however, the family or
estate is responsible for funeral arrangements.
Death and Donation
The opportunity for organ and tissue donation depends on the
type of death.
- Most common type of death is cardio-pulmonary death in which
heart and breathing stops.
- Tissue that may be donated includes heart valves,
corneas/eyes, bone & tendons, skin, veins.
- Tissue must be recovered within 12 to 24 hours after cardiac
death.
Brain Death
- Brain death is the irreversible death of all parts of the
brain. Brain death can occur from an accident, trauma or aneurysm bleed.
- Less than 1% of all death in hospitals meet the criteria for
brain death.
- Organs that may be donated include heart, liver, lungs,
kidneys, pancreas and intestine.
- Tissue that may be donated includes heart valves,
corneas/eyes, bone & tendons, skin, veins.
- A patient who is removed from artificial ventilator support
may be able to donate organs after cardiac death.
- Organ recovery can take place when cardiac death occurs
within established guidelines and medical personnel are available to perform the
donation surgery.
- Tissue donation is possible as well.
Donation Evaluation
The family is instrumental in providing the past and present
medical information of the deceased. Medical examinations and tests are
performed to determine the suitability of the donation of organs and tissue for
transplantation.
Organ Placement
A computerized organ matching system (United Network for
Organ Sharing) is utilized to determine which transplant candidates on the
national waiting list match the donor's blood type, size, and tissue typing.
Transplant candidates are also ranked based on medical urgency, time on the
waiting list, geographic location and other medical criteria.
Recovery Process
The donation surgery is performed by qualified medical
personnel in a medical facility. The donated organs are recovered
and transferred to the transplant center where the patients await an organ
transplant. Tissue that is donated is recovered after the organs have been
removed and the tissue is then prepared for transplant. The utmost care
and respect is given to the donor. The funeral home is contacted once the
donation surgery is completed.
Transplantation
Donated organs are transplanted as soon as possible.
Transplant candidates are prepared for surgery as soon as there is confirmation
that a life-saving organ is a match for that patient. The heart and lungs
are transplanted within 4 hours of recovery, while the kidneys are transplanted
within 24 hours. If donated organs are unable to be transplanted, they may
be used for medical research and/or education.
Donated tissue does not have to be transplanted immediately,
and must undergo additional testing and screening to meet FDA guidelines.
Over one-million tissue transplants take place in the U.S. every year.
Cornea transplants restore sight. Tissue is used in orthopedic and
cardiovascular surgeries. Heart valves are used to replace defective
valves. Bone is used to repair fractures or prevent amputations.
Tendons are used to repair torn ligaments on knees and other joints. Skin
grafts are used to treat severe burns. Veins are used in cardiac by-pass
surgery.
Funeral Arrangements
After the donation is concluded, the deceased is transferred
to the funeral home chosen by the family. The medical investigator may
determine that an autopsy is needed to establish the cause or circumstances of
the death. Funeral arrangements are made by the family. Donation should not
change or delay funeral arrangements. An open casket funeral is possible.
Follow-up
The family receives a letter from the Donor Services with
information about the recipients of the organs, and how donated tissue will
benefit others. The names of the donor, family and organ transplant recipients
are kept confidential, unless both parties agree to correspond. A
bereavement program is available to donor families to help with their loss.