The State of Organ, Eye & Tissue Donation in Ohio – April 2010

In January of 2010, Lifeline of Ohio, on behalf of Donate Life Ohio, partnered with the University of Cincinnati Institute for Policy Research to conduct the 2010 Anatomical Gift Family Survey (AGFS). The purpose of the survey was to assess the current status of Ohioans’ attitudes and beliefs about organ, eye and tissue donation.

The results of the survey have been published in Lifeline of Ohio’s Report card - The State of Organ, Eye & Tissue Donation in Ohio – April 2010.

The report card finds that an overwhelming number of Ohioans have a positive view toward organ, eye and tissue donation, and the majority of people were aware of the need for donors:

• In 2010, 78 percent of Ohio residents had been made aware of organ, eye and tissue donation through some form of media.
• 9 out of 10 Ohioans reported having a positive view toward organ, tissue and eye donation.
• Finally, more than 80 percent of survey participants stated that, if they were to die, they would want to donate one or more of their organs for a patient in need of a transplant.

And yet…Only 52 percent of Ohioans have granted permission for organ, eye and tissue donation on their driver license.

If public perception about donation is so positive, then why is the number of registered organ, eye and tissue donors in Ohio a relatively low 52 percent?

The Report Card outlines possible reasons why the number of registered donors in Ohio is not higher. These include addressing several common myths about organ, eye and tissue donation that may cause apprehension, and providing suggested steps moving forward that will help increase the number of registered donors in Ohio.

The need for organ donors is growing more each day. Once every 48 hours, an Ohioan dies waiting for a life saving transplant. That’s more than 2,000 Ohioans who have died waiting for a transplant in the past ten years.

There are currently more than 3,000 people in Ohio that are still waiting.
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