Racial and Religious Considerations
The need for organ and tissue donation knows no color, race, ethnic group, religion, language or geographical location.
Every 12 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. Nationally, nearly 17 people die each day waiting for a transplant. The need for donors has tripled since the inception of the waiting list, particularly in minority communities.
African Americans, Latinos and other minority communities account for more than half of the nearly 100,000 Americans on the waiting list for an organ transplant.
The Facts on Race
- The number of minorities in need of transplants remains significantly higher than the number of minority donors.
- Race is not considered when determining a person’s position on the waiting list. Rank is determined by severity of illness, time spent waiting, blood type and match potential.
- Nationally, 12 percent of all donors are African American, yet more than 27 percent of people on the waiting list and 35 percent of patients awaiting kidney transplants are African American.
- Nationally, 10 percent of all donors are Latino while more than 16 percent of people on the waiting list and 17 percent of patients awaiting kidney transplants are Latino.
- Some diseases of the kidneys, heart, lungs, pancreas and liver are more prevalent in ethnic and racial minority populations. For example, African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders and Latinos are three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal (kidney) disease than whites. Native Americans are four times more likely than whites to suffer from Diabetes.
- Another racial factor is compatibility. While race does not affect compatibility in tissue transplantation and typically is not a major factor in organ transplantation, matches made within certain ethnic groups have proven to have higher levels of compatibility than those made outside ethnic groups.
- A popular misconception is that organs donated by minorities benefit white recipients. In reality, nine out of 10 African Americans who undergo organ transplants receive organs from white donors.
The Facts on Religion
Most major religions support organ and tissue donation and view organ and tissue donation as an act of charity and goodwill. Below is a list of the major religions practiced in the United States and their position on organ and tissue donation.
African Methodist Episcopal & African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Organ donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity. Members are encouraged to support donation as a way to help others.
Assembly of God Church
No official policy regarding donation exists. The decision to donate is left up to the individual, however organ and tissue donation is highly supported by the denomination.
Baptist Church
The decision is left up to the individual, however donation is supported as an act of charity.
Buddhism
Organ and tissue donation is a matter of individual conscience. The importance of letting loved ones know your wishes is stressed.
Catholicism
Organ and tissue donation is an act of charity, love and self-sacrifice. It is morally and ethically accepted by the Vatican.
Christian Science
Christian Scientists normally rely on spiritual, rather than medical means for healing. However, they are free to choose whatever medical treatment that they desire, including donation and transplantation.
Episcopal Church
The church passed a resolution in 1982 that recognizes the life-giving benefits of organ, blood and tissue donation.
Greek Orthodox Church
Donation is supported as a way to better human life, whether it be in the form of transplantation or research. The church supports efforts that will lead to improvements in the prevention of disease.
Hinduism
The decision to become a donor is left up to the individual.
Islam
The religion of Islam believes in the principle of saving human lives. According to A. Sachedina in his 1990 article in Transplantation Proceedings, "...the majority of Muslim scholars belonging to various schools of Islamic law have invoked the principle of priority of saving human life and have permitted the organ transplant as a necessity to procure that noble end."
Jehovah's Witness
Donation is a matter of individual choice. Jehovah's Witnesses are often assumed to be against donation because of the opposition to blood transfusions. However, they do not oppose donation or receiving transplanted organs given that all blood is removed from the organs and tissues before being transplanted.
Judaism
All four branches of Judaism support and encourage donation.
Lutheran Church
Donation contributes to the well-being of humanity and can be "an expression of sacrificial love for a neighbor in need." They call on "members to consider donating and to make any necessary family and legal arrangements, including the use of a signed donor card."
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
The decision to donate is an individual one that should be made with the family, medical personnel and through prayer. They do not oppose donation.
Presbyterian Church
Donation is supported and encouraged.
Seventh-Day Adventists Church
Donation and transplantation are strongly encouraged.
Unitarian Universalists
Organ and tissue donation is widely supported and viewed as an act of love and selfless giving.
United Methodist Church
Donation is supported and encouraged. If concerns about your religious beliefs have caused you to hesitate about making a decision about organ and tissue donation, please seek the advice of your religious advisor who can offer more guidance.
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