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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 1976)
Page 6 P o-tlaf11'Observer Section II Thursday. June 3, 1976 The Gift of Life There is- a growing need for body organs as transplants be come mor>‘ successful and more common. Any adult can become a donor by signing a form, or if the persons r?latives know of his desire they can make the ar rangemen's af»er death. A per son under eignteen years of age can become a donor with the permissiot of the parents or guardians. The Uniform Anatomial Gift Act make* it legally possible for anyone to make arrangements to donate all cr parts of his body at the time of death. This care of intent must be signed by the donor and two witnesses and carried on the person. If he later changes ha mind he can merely tear up the card. For those who fail to sign the card but whose w ishes are known, the body belongs to the next of kin after death and can be donated by them. THE GIFT OF SIGHT The Oregon Eye Bank acts as a clearinghouse between the next- of-kin of a person donating his eyes and the physician who will perform the sight seeing opera The quality of the eyes to be doiated rtakes no difference. If the cornea, sclera or vitreous are not diseased, the tissue can be used for transplantation. If diseased, laboratory studies may help to determine cause and cures for disease in others. Although all eyes can be used for some purpose, the best for corneal transplant are those from young people who have died while in previous good health, for example, accident victims. Eyes must be removed quickly after death for preservation. They should be at the eye bank within eight hours after death. The removal of the eyes does not cause disfigurement and does not interfere with funeral arrange ments. THE CORNEAL TRANSPLANT damaged area BODY DONATION PROGRAM The Oregon Eye Bank is lo cated at the University of Ore gon Health Service Center, but the ey es donated are used throughout the state. In 1974. the Lions of Oregon in State Convention passed a re solution adopting an eye bank program as a state project. The resolution provided for a gov erning board of four active Lions and four staff Ophthalmologists of Good Samaritan Hospital who would be accountable to the Oregon Lions Sight Foundation s Board of Trustees and to the Good Samaritan Foundation. hospital or funeral expense. The removal is accomplished by shill ed surgeons and does .lot inter fere with funeral arrangements. Kidneys are badly needed. Each year many lives are lost because there are not enough donors. replacem en t tissue from donor eye The office and laboratory of the Oregon Lions Eye Bank are located within the Department of Ophthalmology of Good Samari tan Hospital and Medical Center. Portland. Oregon. A large number of donor pledges are required in order to assure a continuous supply of eyes to the eye bank. The waiting list of recipients has always exceeded the number of eyes received. It is estimated that of the 400.000 blind persons in the United States 30.000 could be helped by corneal transplant surgery. It is estimated that only 1.300 corneal transplant operations are performed by all eye banks each year. This number is limited by the number of eyes received. KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS Kidney disease is the fourth leading health problem in the United States. More than eight million Americans suffer from kidney related disease and about 58.000 die each year from kidney disease About 157 Oregonians die each year from kidney di sease. More than 10.000 kidney transplants have been recorded throughout the world. In recent years, most patients who receive kidney transplants are restored to normal, productive lives. The most successful trans plants are when the kidney is donated by a dose relative For those patients who do not have a related donor, the best treat ment is combined dialysis and kidney transplantation from a non-related donor. If the kidney fails, patients can be dialyzed until another kidney becomes available. The more donors there are the greater the oppor tunity to match donors and reci pients for compatability. For purposes of transplant, kidneys must be removed within an hour after death. Removal of a kidney or other organ for transplant does not add to the An ever increasing number of people will their bodies to medi cal science for anatomical stu dies. thereby performing an un usual and outstanding service after death. Contribution of the body for medical research can be made through the University of Ore gon Health Science Center, using the same method as. when donat ing specific organs. Contribution of the body for medical research can be made through the University of Ore gon Health Science Center, using the same method as when donat ing specific organs. Following death, the remains are received by a funeral director selected by the family. He performs initial embalming and transports the body to the School of Medicine. The cost of em balming and transportation are by the estate, not by the School. There can be a funeral or memorial service if the survivors wish, and following the service the body is transported to the School of Medicine. Following the use of the body for scientific purpose, the re mains are cremated at the School of Medicine and the cremated remains are returned to the family or to any place requested. There is no cost for the crema tion and transportation. The body is properly handled and treated with respect during all phases of teaching and re search. All embalming and storage areas are open to au thorized personnel only. Most bodies are accepted. The most common reasons for rejec tion are obesity or extreme etna- -eation, which causes distortion of the body structure. If mem bers of the immediate family object, the body will not be accepted. PIAN PAYS FUNERAL BILLS Many people will be pleased to know that there is new available a plan which pays funeral expenses. It is available to persons up to age 90. There a-e no enrollment fees and a few cents a day provides complete protec tiopn from funeral expenses regardless of where death occurs. The plan is good anywhere in the World and any funderal director may be chosen. The plan is called the American Funeral Plan and is underwritten by the Ameriein Guaranty Life Insurance C om pany. C om p lete in form ation without cost or obligation can be obtained by writing American Funeral Plan. For further information write: Ar-erican Guaranty Life Insurance Company, Dept. F., P.O. Box 3647. Portland. Oregon 97208 22117283 Why leave YOUR funeral for SOMEONE else to worry about??? Make that hard day easier for the people you love. Make the tough decisions now, in advance, then forget about them. Place in one location all the facts and dates that will be necessary to serve the needs of your particular belief and preferences. Mrs. Fiorine Britt, Asst. Counselor and Hostess available ta assist in all details. 430 N. Killingsworth 283-1976 t ne httie inapt, of the (Jumes
