ISTANBUL HASEKI TRAINING AND RESEARCH HOSPITAL

Can Donated Organs Transplant To Anyone?

Transplantation procedures are under the control of the National Coordination. The system, within the Ministry of Health, and all of the process is recorded and documented.

Organs are distributed according to the national waiting list and tissue and blood type compatibility, while the most emergent patients have the priority.

Language, religion, nationality, gender, or wealth does not affect the decision of organ transplantation ranking. The donor’s and recipient’s identity is disclosed unless the families request otherwise.

Does Older Age or Chronic Illness is An Obstacle to Donate Organs?

Advanced age, chronic illnesses, drinking alcohol, smoking, or other related situations are not obstacles for organ donation.

Can Anyone Change His/Her Mind After Giving Consent to Organ Donation?

In case you decide not to donate your organs, first, you have to tell your families your decision, then extirpate your organ donation card.

Is There Any Religious Inconvenience of Organ Donation?

The Directorate of Religious Affairs, the religious affairs high committee defined organ donation as the biggest help one may offer to another human being. They declared organ donation as religiously permissible by their decree on 06.03.1980, issue 396. The holy Quran, Maide Surah, 32nd Verse quotes ‘Whoever gives life to someone, he/she earns good deeds as if he/she gives life to all people’.

Where Can I Apply To Donate My Organs?

-Provincial health directorates

-District health group presidencies

-State hospitals

-University hospitals

-Private Hospitals

District outpatient clinics

What Is The Organ Donation?

Organ donation is the process when a person allows an organ or its parts of their own to be transplanted to another person after death. Everyone, older than 18 years old and mentally stable, may decide to donate their organs.

Does Organs of Everyone Who Donated Can Be Used?

Organ transplantation is not possible after every death even though it was donated. Organs may not be used if the person has died at home, emergency room, or in hospital wards. Organ transplantation is acceptable only if the person dies in the intensive care unit, while he/she is on mechanical ventilation, in other words, brain-dead.

What is Brain Death? How It is Diagnosed?

Brain death is the complete and irreversible loss of brain function. Death has occurred exactly and precisely. This situation must not be confused with a vegetative state. Various tests should be performed to diagnose brain death.

After the tests are performed, 2 physicians, one neurologist or neurosurgeon, one anesthesiologist or intensive care unit specialist, decides unanimously by the rules of evidence-based medicine. After the diagnosis is made, the family is informed.

Does Permission  Is Requested From Family Members Whether There Is An Organ Donation Card or Not?

Organ donation is discussed with every brain-dead person’s family, whether there is a donation card or not.  This interview is performed by Organ Donation Coordinator. None of the organs may be taken or used unless the family confirms.

Which Organs can be Donated?

-Heart

-Liver

-Kidney

-Heart Valve

-Pancreas

-Lungs

-Cornea

-Small intestine

-Bones

-Upper Respiratory Tract

-Muscle tissue

-Cartilage

-Tendon

-Face and hairy skin

-Extremity

-Skin

-Uterus

What Are The Legal Issues About Organ Transplantation?

Legal dimensions of organ transplantation are determined in 29.05.1979, issue number 2238. Accordingly,

Item 6: In order to transplant an organ or a tissue, a written and signed consent form, or a verbal declaration in front of 2 witnesses stating the open, conscious, uninfluenced will of the donor, who is older than 18 years old and has the mental ability,  should be approved by a physician.

Item 14: If a person did not mention using his/her whole body, organs, or tissues in favor of diagnosis, treatment, or scientific interest in his/her formal or written testament, nor declared transplantation permission verbally before two witnesses, organ/tissue transplantation can be performed after asking for approval from a spouse, children, parents, or siblings respectively who are with him/her when he/she dies. If those aforementioned people are not present,  another relative who is nearby can give permission to transplant the diseased organs/tissues.

Tissues such as cornea that do not change the appearance of the corpse’s integrity can be transplanted unless there is a testament stating otherwise.

Tissue or organ transplantation is not permitted if the deceased stated that he/she does not approve transplantation while he/she was living.

Gulcihan Cilingir

HSU Haseki Training and Research Hospital

Coordinator of Organ And Tissue Transplantation

Contact Number:  0212 453 20 00 – 2351

“SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION WITH YOUR FAMILY”