Can you be an organ donor and still have a traditional funeral with viewing?

Yes. Regardless of an organ removal, the techniques used by embalmers ensure that the deceased’s appearance will not be compromised. When an organ is removed, the body is stitched up afterward in the same way a live person is stitched up after any type of surgery. The body is clothed for the funeral, so the stitches are covered.

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One Response to Can you be an organ donor and still have a traditional funeral with viewing?

  1. David J Undis says:

    Your story about Organ Donation highlighted the tragic shortage of human organs for transplant operations.

    Over 50% of the people on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs every year.

    There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage – give donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.

    Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren’t willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.

    Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at http://www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition. LifeSharers has over 13,500 members at this writing.

    Please contact me – Dave Undis, Executive Director of LifeSharers – if your readers would like to learn more about our innovative approach to increasing the number of organ donors. I can arrange interviews with some of our local members if you’re interested. My email address is daveundis@lifesharers.org. My phone number is 615-351-8622.

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