How to Become an Organ Donor in Australia

As part of the process of deciding on your pre-planning funeral options in Mackay,  you may be wondering whether or not you want to be an organ donor. If you want to, how do you become an organ donor in Australia. The goal here is to help you through this process so that you can be a hero to those in need. By being an organ donor, you are saving and transforming lives even after you pass.

Understanding Organ Donation

Organ donation is a medical procedure where an organ (or organs) are removed from the donor and then transplanted into another patient’s body. For the most part, this is a procedure that occurs when the donor dies, as they take the organs and get them to those people in need. There are some occasions where a living donation can be made, such as with a kidney or partial liver, but for the most part these are completed after death.

You may be surprised at just what organs can be donated, including:

• Liver
• Kidneys
• Heart
• Lungs
• Pancreas
• Skin
• Bone tissue
• Eye tissue

These are essential organs that people need to improve the quality of their life and the longevity of their life. Being an organ donor can have a significant impact on the lives of the recipients and their families. However, it’s important to remember that even though you are registered as an organ donor to let your family know your wishes to be one. People who are grieving may be more sensitive to this topic than you might think, so it’s important to be open about your decision.

Becoming an Organ Donor

Practically anyone can be an organ donor as long as the organs are viable enough to benefit another person. When you are 18 and over, you can consent to becoming a donor, while being 16 and 17 means that you can register your interest in being a donor. The medical professionals will take a closer look at your age and medical history, but they generally will take healthy organs and tissue where they can.

To become an organ donor, you need to register on the Australian Organ Donor Register or through your myGov account. Using the national donor register, you can record your decision about being an organ and/or tissue donor. You can even decide one which tissue and organs you want to donate if you prefer to not donate everything. Depending on where you live in Australia, you may even be able to include your intentions on your driver’s license.

Conclusion

If you have decided that you want to become an organ donor, you need to be sure that you let your family know your wishes. Even though you want to donate your organs, ultimately your family can have the final say after you die. You can prepare an organ donation content form to let people know what your wishes are to ensure that your organs are donated as you wish.