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