Why do people don donate blood and organs, more?
People don’t donate blood and organs for multiple reasons: fear, superstition, religion, racial bias,etc. People know it’s important, but, it’s one of those things relegated to the "let somebody else do it" department.
Blood donations dropped significantly with the onset of the Aids epidemic. Doctors and scientists the world over had stated repeatedly: you cannot get aids by donating blood(dirty needles), nor will a person receive blood tainted with the aids virus, yet, the stigma and fear are still there. Thanks to TV dramas portraying fallen recipients of tainted blood, and the worldwide web people showing the less wholesome environments where blood is collected and donors at those locations, people are un- necessarily afraid. Blood donated from any source, be it the corner clinic or a posh donation center in an upscale neighborhood, is tested rigorously for pathogens because the risk to humanity is too great for anything less.
Blood donations get better support than organ donations because organ donations have been around at least half a century if not longer, we are comfortable with the process. Also because we can make more blood, but we can’t make more organs, which puts organ donation in a category of its own.
Organ donation has grown tremendously, from a few isolated cases, for persons with life threatening illnesses, to a major industry where every organ is highly coveted. People are funny on the issue of organ donation. Our organs are part of us, who we are and people don’t really want to let that go. Why?
Religious beliefs prevent many from donating. Many religions nix the idea. Some believe when we die we are supposed to be buried with all of our pieces and parts, so that when resurrection occurs we’ll be all there! Some religions have strict taboos against any medical procedure that would intervene with the will of God, including life saving organ transplants. Such religions believe it is morally wrong to receive an organ or donate an organ to save a life.
Others won’t donate, silly as it may seem, because of racial bias. They don’t want their organs going to certain races of people or certain classes. Why would they want to help their enemies? They have no desire to help anyone who is not of their ilk for any reason!
Then there’s good old fashioned superstition. Some people just don’t think it’s natural to have part of them in somebody else. What if they catch something from the donor? Will they start acting like the donor? What if receiving an organ will allow the donor to possess them! Don’t laugh. All other reasons aside, fear is probably the number one factor keeping people from donating organs. The fear that something may happen to their bodies or quiet thoughts like: what if I need it later? People have always feared what they don’t understand and organ donation is no exception.
Of course one can make donations posthumously, but, when its time for resurrection one wouldn’t be whole,so…now we’re back where we started. Take heart! Science and medicine is doing everything imaginable to increase organ donations, including enticing people to make organ donation a part of their wills and estate planning. In many states you can now indicate on your driver’s license whether you would like to make an organ donation in the event of untimely demise.
One of the biggest issues with posthumous donation has to be the pace. The grieving process is interrupted because your loved one has to be rushed off for organ removal. An unsettling thought. For posthumous organ donation to move from a small group of progressive thinkers to massive acceptance and support, mental adjustments must occur so donors and donor survivors will be all right with the process and what must occur and the pace at which it must occur.
Lastly, it’s just plain unpleasant! Organ donation reminds us of our own mortality. It’s not something we want to think about let alone plan for.
I think this is two different questions, why don’t people donate blood, and why don’t people donate organs? 1. Blood Because you donate blood when you are alive (and awake) I think the main reason for people not doing this is that they are afraid of needles, or because donating makes them feel ill or faint. Some people may feel that they don’t have enough time. There are also a lot of things that rule you out as a donor, for example if you have had unprotected sex, if you are younger than 17, if you are gay, or anaemic, if you have recently had a tattoo or your ears pierced, or been to certain countries, if you are on certain medications… not everybody who would like to donate is able to. 2. Organs I think the main reason people don’t donate organs is purely apathy – they can’t be bothered! 80% of Europeans are willing to donate organs, but only 12% actually carry donor cards. Of the 20% who don’t support donation, some will be religious and some will just be squeamish. Although the
Organs- most don’t know how to become a donor or can’t because of an illness. Blood- many reasons. Mine is that I can’t give blood without fainting after the finger prick. If they invented a better way of doing it without finger pricks, I would give blood. It isn’t that I’m anemic or scared. I don’t know why. Occassionly I go to give blood just to see if I can this time.
