Science

Campaigns Target Older Adult Organ Donors

May 28th, 2012

The Health Resources and Services Administration is educating and encouraging those 50 and older about the importance of registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.

There are 114,000 people on the national organ transplant waiting list.

Dr. Howard K. Koh is the Assistant Secretary for Health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The department kicked off a campaign specifically targeting older adults. Dr. Koh says there is no age limit in who can sign up to be an organ donor.

He adds, last year 50 and older accounted for 60% of the total number of transplants yet only 32% of total donors.

“The critical issue here is not only have people consider the decision and hopefully sign up, but also talk about the decision with family members and loved ones.”

Dr. Koh says the need is great a cross the board but adds kidney, liver, heart and tissue translplants are among the most critical.

For more information about organ donation visit organdonor.gov.

Georgia waiting list statistics:

(from federal government data on registrations as of May 17, 2012)