Organ Donation

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The facts on organ donation

Most people think that death occurs when the heart stops beating. This is called cardiac death. Death, however, can also occur when the brain stops functioning. This is called brain death. The way a person dies will depend on which organs and tissues can be donated.

CARDIAC DEATH:

Three things happen when cardiac death occurs.
1: The heart stops beating and cannot be restarted.
2: The person stops breathing.
3: The brain then stops functioning because it has been starved of oxygen.
People who die in this way can donate tissues such as heart valves, bones, corneas and skin up to 24 hours after they die.

BRAIN DEATH:

The same things occur when a person is brain dead but they occur in a different order.
1: The brain stops functioning because it's deprived of oxygen (as a result of injury and/or swelling)
2: Breathing stops because the brain is dead.
3: Finally the heart stops beating. The person is dead. He or she cannot recover.

To be able to donate organs such as heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and pancreas, a person must be brain dead, on a ventilator (artificial breathing machine) and in hospital. Without a supply of oxygen from the ventilator, these organs would not be suitable for transplantation.

How to register for organ donation

To officially register your desire to donate organs or tissue in the event of your death register on-line here at the Organ Donor Registry.