Does donation disrupt or delay funeral arrangements?
• Is donation against my religion? Leaders of major religions support donation or have made it clear that the decision to donate is a personal one that should be discussed with family members. • How are organs distributed? Once a family has consented to donation, the donor’s height, weight and blood type are entered into a computer tied into the national database operated by the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN). After the information is entered, the OPTN computer generates a list of individuals awaiting transplants who best match the donor’s blood and body size. Medical urgency and the amount of time on a waiting list also play and integral role in determining who receives an organ. A patient’s race, gender, age, celebrity status, or income are not considered when deciding who receives an organ. Also, most costs associated with transplantation are covered by private insurance or Medicare. • If I have the donor designation on my driver’s license, do I still have to sign a
