Organ and Tissue Donation Education in Virginia Ninth Grade Health Classes Madison Shinaberry

Senior at Turner Ashby High School Received double lung transplant in 2009 after two years of living with pulmonary hypertension Advocate for organ and tissue donation

Organ and Tissue Donation Facts Each deceased organ donor has the potential to save seven lives with their organs. Each eye and tissue donor can make possible more than 100 eye and tissue transplants.

National Statistics Nationally, there are 112,075 people currently waiting for donated organs. Each day, on average, 18 people die in the United States because of the shortage of organ donors. Every 10 minutes, a new name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list. Each year, more than one million people need lifesaving and life-improving tissues and corneas.

Virginia Statistics There are 3,022 Virginians who are currently waiting for donated organs. Last year, there were just 134 deceased organ donors and 105 living donors in Virginia.

Organ and Tissue Donation Education Facts Nationally, there are no requirements for education about organ and tissue donation in public schools. Several states, including Virginia, have adopted the requirement of minimal education about organ and tissue donation in driver’s education classes. When Minnesota adopted the requirement of education about organ donation in driver’s education classes, the state saw a 26 percent jump in donor intent on driver’s licenses within a year. In May of 2000, Wisconsin passed a law requiring that all driver’s education classes in the state provide at least 30 minutes of instruction relating to organ and tissue donation. There are no national or state requirements for education about organ and tissue donation in public school health classes, which are taught in the ninth grade, the time when many students obtain their driver’s permits.

Organ Donation Myths If I agree to donate, the hospital staff won’t work as hard to keep me alive. I’m a minor, so I’m too young to make the decision. I’m not in good health, and nobody would want my organs. Rich and famous people go to the top of the list My family will be charged if I donate my organs.

Proposal I would like for you to support legislation in the Virginia General Assembly that would require a minimum of thirty minutes of education about organ and tissue donation in ninth grade health classes. This would help educate students about organ and tissue donation before they receive their driver’s permits. With knowledge about organ and tissue donation, students can make an informed decision about whether to be an organ donor. Because of the shortage of organ and organ donors in the state of Virginia, education to students is extremely important.

Sources “Data Reports.” OPTN: Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Web. 26. Feb “Organ Donation Statistics in the United States NYODN.” Organ Donation New York Organ Donor Network NYODN. Web. 1 Mar “Tissue Donation: Restoring Quality of Life.” Organ Donation, Tissue Donation, Organ Transplants – The Gift of a Lifetime. Web. 1 Mar Madigan, Erin. “States Use Driver’s Ed To Boost Organ Donation.” Stateline: State Policy and Politics, Updated Daily. The Pew Center on the States. Web. 26 Feb Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Organ Donation: Don't Let These Myths Confuse You - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Web. 11 Sept