Organ donation before and after death

Organ donation can improve or even save the life of another human being. Realize the importance of this selfless act and how it all works.

Waiting lists for organ and tissue transplants are constantly expanding. The same cannot be said of the number of available donors. Therefore, it is important to explain what the organ donationtissue and blood and showing how crucial it can be in someone’s life.

Demystifying the issue of organ donation is an essential step to promote general enlightenment. Note that all donation procedures are completely free of charge for the donor and comply with various criteria and requirements, always complying with all hygiene and safety rules.

So, get to know why organ donation is so important.

Living organ donation

So far we have talked about organ donation after death. However, it is also possible to donate organs while still alive, but for that it is necessary that the donor meets certain requirements:

• be an adult;
• have good physical and mental health;
• not have any disease or pathology transmissible by the organ or tissues;
• take this step freely, voluntarily and free of charge.

Of course, for all this to happen, it is necessary that the entire organ donation process is accompanied by a team of doctors and by the Verification Entity of the Admissibility of the Harvest for Transplantation, in order to assess the conditions of both the donor and the recipient. .

However, for more information, be sure to consult the ordinance that regulates this matter.

cell donation

bone marrow donation

the transplant of bone marrow it is necessary in case of diseases such as acute or chronic leukemia, medullary aplasia and immunodeficiencies. Thus, as the bone marrow is a tissue that regenerates, it is possible to make this donation more than once in a lifetime.

However, remember that the entire donation process (medical procedures, travel and other non-medical costs) is free of charge for the donor, with expenses borne by the patient’s health subsystem.

Cord blood donation

Umbilical cord blood is rich in cells and, therefore, can be essential in the treatment of patients with different types of cancer, such as leukemia, lymphoma and other diseases associated with blood or the immune system.

Therefore, any healthy pregnant woman can be a donor of umbilical cord blood, and the collection, to assess whether there are conditions to donate, is carried out between the 28th and 35th week of pregnancy. Also note that the collection can be done in hospitals or maternity hospitals authorized and with collaboration protocols with the Public Bank of Cells of the Umbilical Cord (BPCCU), which are:

• São João Hospital Center – Porto
• Maternidade Júlio Dinis – Porto Hospital Center
• Hospital Pedro Hispano – Matosinhos Local Health Unit
• Hospital Prof. Doctor Fernando Fonseca

This donation is free, happens after the baby is born and is completely safe for the mother and the newborn, not interfering in the dynamics of childbirth. However, it should be noted that in the case of making this donation to the Public Bank, it cannot be made simultaneously to a Private bank.

Blood donation

Blood donation is perhaps the most popular type of donation and to do so, you must:

• be over 18 years old;
• have a weight equal to or greater than 50 kg;
• have healthy lifestyle habits.

So, if you meet the requirements, then you can go to a Blood and Transplantation Center in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra or to a hospital service with blood collection. There, you must present an identification document with a photograph (Identity Card/Citizen Card, passport, resident card or driving license) and fill in a questionnaire.

Afterwards, you will be evaluated by a qualified health professional who determines your eligibility or not for blood donation, with this evaluation being based on a physical examination (recording of weight, height, hemoglobin and blood pressure).

This is also a free donation process that also gives access to the National Blood Donor Card, which identifies you as a donor and registers your donations, allowing you to be exempt from user fees when accessing healthcare services of the National Health Service (SNS).

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Organ donation after death

First, it should be explained that, according to current Portuguese law, all citizens who DO NOT register in the National Register of Non-Donors (RENNDA) are considered potential organ donors, understanding this donation as complete, that is, of all the organs. Thus, if you do not want to donate organs or tissues, you must also express this in the RENNDA.

For organ donation, it is necessary to meet certain requirements, such as death occurring in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital, and only then is it possible to conserve the organs and verify whether or not that person meets the conditions to be a donor. However, it is important to emphasize that there is no age limit for donation, what makes it possible or not is the quality and functionality of the organs in question.

organs and tissues

In addition to organ donation, tissue can also be donated. In this way, you will then understand what can be donated after death.

Organs

• kidneys;
• liver;
• heart;
• pancreas;
• lungs.

Fabrics

• osteotendinous (bone, tendon and other osteotendinous structures);
• corneas;
• heart valves;
• vascular segments;
• skin.