How to Obtain an Organ Transplant

Organ transplant is a lengthy process. You need to make external arrangements and wait until the required organ is available. This waiting period is always critical for the patient and his family members. Proper planning and code of conduct can help ease the tension slightly. Here are guidelines on how to obtain an organ transplant:

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Register your name in national waiting list of organ transplantation through your doctor. All transplant hospitals in the US are mostly members of NOS (The United Network for Organ Sharing). You can get more information from the website below (see the resources section).
2. Select the transplant hospital after proper consultation with your doctor. This will be possible only after a series of medical tests as advised by your doctor.
3. Note that various factors such as your preferences, geographical location, finance, insurance coverage need to be considered in selecting the transplant hospital.
4. Find out the exact time required. You need to collect two-fold information. Get information about the waiting period for the required organ as well as details on when and where it can be transplanted.
5. Make appropriate arrangements in advance for transportation of the donated organ to the transplant center as soon as you get a call.
6. Keep yourself stress free during the waiting period. Remember that the transplant hospital allocates any available organ first locally, then regionally and nationally.

Tips & Warnings

• Take medical insurance as soon as organ transplant is decided. If you have one, perform all the formalities in advance.
• Contact other funding organizations that offer money for the transplantation, if necessary.
• Ask your doctor to help you out in registering in national waiting lists.
• Never try to use any unfair means to get an organ. It would lead to fine and jail term.