Misinformation about organ donation plays a large role in the critical lack of organ donors across the United States. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are more than 100,000 people - more people than Orlando’s Camping World Stadium holds - waiting for transplants in the U.S. Minorities. Sixty percent of those on the National Transplant Waiting List are minorities, while only 32% of donors come from minority communities. That means longer wait times and high mortality rates while waiting for a lifesaving transplant. This disparity is part of the impetus for National Minority Donor Awareness Month.
Many people choose not to donate because they believe things about organ donation that are not true. “There are a lot of myths, and I believe that the more education the better,” said Charlyce Simmons, a two-time kidney transplant recipient and founder of Michal’s Hope, an Orlando based non-profit working to create awareness and help patients in all stages of renal failure, as well as their families.
“It is crucial that we raise awareness and dispel myths, particularly in minority communities, to bridge the gap between the need and the supply of organs and tissues,” said Dr. Bobby Nibhanupudy, medical director for abdominal transplantation at AdventHealth Transplant Institute, and medical director of OurLegacy, the federally designated organ procurement organization for 10 counties in east Central Florida.
Click HERE or on the video at the top of this article to learn the truth about five of the most common myths regarding organ donation.
National Minority Donor Awareness Month is a great opportunity to learn more about organ donation and how it can save and improve lives. By registering as a donor and spreading the word, you can help bridge the gap between the need and the supply of organs and tissues. Florida residents can sign up to be an organ donor by going to Donate Life Florida. It’s easy and can be done in about five minutes.