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While the
majority of Americans express interest in
Organ and Tissue Donation, too few take
steps to register as Donors
Newswise — While the number of Americans registered as
organ and tissue donors is rising, the
registry still only includes 38 percent of
licensed drivers, according to a report card
issued by Donate Life America this year.
Yet, according to a new survey of Americans,
72 percent of people want their decision to
donate honored, even if their family
disagrees.
“The number of people awaiting organ transplants has
climbed to more than 100,000 – and an
average of 18 people die each day waiting
for available organs,” said Donate Life
America Chair Sara Pace Jones.
“It is more important than ever for those who support
donation to legally document those wishes –
and registering through the DMV or state
donor registries are the most important ways
to do that. Anyone can find out how to
register in their state by visiting
http://www.donatelife.net or
http://www.facebook.com/donatelife.”
The online survey of 5,100 U.S. adults – supported by
Astellas Pharma US, Inc. – uncovered some
misperceptions and confusion about organ
donation and registration. Among them:
• Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of people who say they are
undecided, reluctant or do not wish to
donate are not sure they would be an
acceptable donor. Yet, in reality, age or
health conditions do not prevent people from
being potential donors as donation screening
only occurs before organs and tissue are
recovered for transplant.
• Only half (50 percent) of respondents correctly believe
that doctors will try as hard to save their
life even if they know their wish to be an
organ donor
• Just under half (44 percent) mistakenly think that in the
U.S. there is a black market in which people
can buy or sell organs or tissue.
• Only 43 percent of respondents understand that it is
impossible for a brain dead person to
recover from his or her injuries.
“There is a real crisis taking place with regards to organ
availability in this country – and
dispelling commonly held misperceptions and
increasing the public’s trust of the
donation and transplant system is paramount
when it comes to solving it,” said Pace
Jones.
To help spread the word about the importance of organ
donation registration, Donate Life America
is celebrating National Donate Life Month in
April with numerous local and national
educational programs and several new
initiatives, including the launch of the
official Donate Life America Facebook fan
page,
http://www.facebook.com/donatelife.
The page makes it easy for users to register as donors in
their states and share messages in support
of organ and tissue donation.
It also features monthly polls; posts from celebrities,
recipients, donors and donor families
encouraging donor registration; and listings
of resources and upcoming events.
About the Survey
The survey was fielded through Survey
Sampling International, one of the largest
providers of online panels in the U.S.,
during February 2009 on behalf of Donate
Life America.
The online survey of 5,100 U.S. adults included a sample size of 100 in
each state plus the District of Columbia.
The aggregated nationwide data was weighted
to reflect the relative proportion of the
U.S. adult population in each state.
The sample was controlled to match the U.S. population as a whole on
age, gender, education, income and
ethnicity.
About Donate Life
America
Donate Life America is a non-for-profit
alliance of national organizations and state
teams across the United States, serving as a
national voice and inspiring all people to
save enhance lives through organ, eye and
tissue donation.
For more information, visit
http://www.donatelife.net.
About Astellas
Astellas is a recognized leader in
transplantation and has been committed to
the field of immunology for more than 20
years.
Dedicated to supporting the advancement of care for patients, Astellas
continues to build upon its legacy and
leadership in transplantation by investing
in ongoing clinical research and new product
development.
Astellas Pharma US, Inc., located in Deerfield, Illinois,
is a US affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas
Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical
company dedicated to improving the health of
people around the world through the
provision of innovative and reliable
pharmaceutical products.
The organization is committed to becoming a global category
leader in focused areas by combining
outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities.
In the US, Astellas markets products in the areas of
Immunology, Urology, Anti-Infectives,
Cardiovascular and Dermatology.
For more information about Astellas Pharma US, Inc., please
visit our Web site at
http://www.astellastransplant.com.
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