Hey Montreal, did you know this week is tissue and organ donation awareness week?
McGill's very own Wendy Sherry, Nurse Clinician for Organ & Tissue Donation at the MUHC, sat down with us to talk a bit more about tissue and organ donation and why it's important:
Can you tell us a bit about your initiative?
"Organ donation is rare. At the MUHC, the donation nurses work with the treating teams to ensure all potential donors are identified and supported.
Anyone can be a potential organ donor – regardless of age, ethnicity, spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, or state of health."
How can someone apply to become an organ donor?
"In Quebec, there are three easy ways to consent to organ and tissue donation:
Affix a signed sticker on the back of your health insurance card ( at https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/blood-tissue-and-organ-donation/organ-and-tissue-donation/procedure), complete the RAMQ register consent form for organ and tissue donation, or consult a notary to register your donation decision with the Registry of Consents for Organ and Tissue Donation of the Chambre des Notaires du Québec."
What is the biggest myth surrounding organ and tissue donation?
"One of the biggest myths is that rich and famous people go to the top of the transplant waiting list.
Celebrity and financial status are not considered in organ allocation. In Quebec, there is a list for each organ. The criteria to receive an organ is based on the person's medical condition."
What is the biggest takeaway surrounding tissue and organ donation awareness week?
The biggest takeaway from this week is to encourage people to consider registering as organ and tissue donors, and to discuss their wishes with their family and loved ones. By registering as a donor, together we can help save lives and improve the quality of life for those in need of transplants.
To put it simply...why donate?
One organ donor can save up to 8 lives and improve the lives of another 20 people through tissue donation!
For more information, click here!
