15 Sep 2018  |   05:07am IST

Don’t take your organs to heaven

Joseph Lewis D’Silva

“Don’t take your organs to heaven. Heaven knows that we need them here on earth.” The aim of this slogan is to motivate normal human people to give their organs after death. Modern technology has made it possible to transplant organs like heart, kidney, cornea, lung and liver from one human being to another which according to some are minor miracles; as in the past it was quite impossible to have this kind of organ transplantation.

There is a great shortage for organ donation in our country; so, many patients, in deafening silence are on the waiting list wishing and wanting a donor. But many do not want to donate their organs after death even though it is of no use to them because they believe that if someone is meant to die from some disease then that is the way it should be; others, who do now want to be a donor, say that if, someone wants a brain transplant, that person who receives it should not think the same way they used to think and have the same type of problems.

Experts say that the organs from one donor can save or help as many as 50 people and by giving one’s heart to beat in someone's living body; one’s lungs to breath in somebody’s existing body; one’s bones to repair other individual’s damaged joints, makes one famous and immortal. Secondly, people of all ages, dead or living can donate their organ without the slightest harm being done to the donor. Thirdly, an artificial transplant is artificial intelligence and is no substitute for a natural organ transplant. Lastly, they caution that the donor’s organs should be removed without wasting much time.

The declaration of an individual which says: “I would like to help someone to live after my death with my organ,” is an act of charity.  Organ donation is in agreement with the Bible: “Thou shall love the Lord thy God ....: Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mark.12:31). Organ donation is allowed by all religions. In fact they promote and support this noble cause. 

The prime purpose of our life is to help others. Therefore, let us be like the Good Samaritan --- with comforting words and after our death radiate happiness through our organs; for the Bible says: “We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out.”  (1 Tim 6:7).  As god fills the universe, so the soul fills the body; it dwells in the body and leaves it when the person dies.

Blood Banks check donor’s eligibility through series of tests especially that of a diabetic patient as to which parts of the donor are not affected by diabetes that can be used to sustain life. All what, the donor has to do, is fill a prescribed consent form from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India. The one, who wishes to donate his organ, does the right thing in his life time with the wisdom that the god given organ should not go waste. Donating organ is more precious than even diamonds and gold.

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