LifeLink of Georgia - Media Information Sheet

Factual information provides the most important content in any story; misinformation about organ and tissue donation can cost lives. Any story mentioning organ and tissue donation or transplantation creates an opportunity to save lives by raising awareness.

Together We Can Raise Awareness

Fact: More than 98,000 Americans are listed for a life-saving organ transplant; thousands more are in need of tissue transplants.

Fact: More than 22,000 African Americans, 12,000 Hispanics, 4,000 Asians, and 2,000 other non-Caucasians are on the national transplant waiting list. More than 3,700 Floridians are listed, more than 2,400 Georgians are listed and more than 460 Puerto Ricans are awaiting their gift of life.

Fact: Our experience shows families are more willing to donate a loved one's organs and tissue if they have talked about it. A family discussion indicating one's wishes helps the families make decisions upon death.

LifeLink is Your Local Resource for Information about Donation & Transplantation

Fact: Donor organs are offered for transplantation based on urgency of medical need, compatible blood type and body size. Political, social or celebrity statuses are not factors.

Fact: Donation is not discussed with a family until all efforts to save a life have failed. Once death has been declared, a family is asked about donating life through organ and/or tissue donation.

Fact: Death occurs in two ways: 1) brain death; and 2) cardiac death. Brain death occurs when a person has an irreversible catastrophic brain injury that causes all brain activity to stop permanently. In such cases, ventilator support can maintain function of the organ systems. However, these functions will cease when the ventilator support is discontinued. Brain death is an accepted medical, ethical and legal principle. Cardiac death is the cessation of heart-lung function. Tissue and bone may be recovered for transplant in either type of death. Organs are usable in cases where brain death occurs.

Media Terminology

Like many aspects of organ and tissue donation and transplantation, terminology is continually updated and changed. Please note the following words or phrases preferred by donor families and transplant recipients.

Deceased - families of organ and tissue donors have asked donor programs and media to refrain from using the term "cadaveric donor." The preferred term is "deceased donor."

Recover/Recovery - out of respect for the heroes who donate life, we ask reporters not to use the term "harvest" when referring to the surgical recovery of lifesaving and enhancing gifts. This word has negative connotations for patients and families. We harvest crops; we recover human organs and tissue for transplant.

Ventilator/ Mechanical Support - A ventilator or mechanical support is the accurate term to use when reporting on organ donation. A deceased donor remains on a ventilator in order to maintain organ function, which enables the sharing of life with others. It is incorrect to state the donor is on life support, as it gives the false impression that an individual remains "alive" so organs can be donated. Deceased donation only occurs when death has been declared and consent has been given.

Donation after Cardiac Death - Everyone has the potential to be a donor. After cardiac death, tissue may be donated for transplantation. In some instances a person may donate organs after cardiac death has occurred. This may happen if the patient has suffered devastating and unrecoverable brain damage resulting in ventilator dependency, the family wanted organ donation to occur, and also decided to withdraw support. Death occurs from cardiac and respiratory arrest and the patient is pronounced. Following death, organ recovery could proceed.