Kevin J. O'Connor of the New England Organ Bank says the coverage of the recent face transplant has raised awareness about the need for organ donation.
(Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff)
KEVIN J. O'CONNOR | G Force
His bank saves lives
Kevin J. O'Connor of the New England Organ Bank says the coverage of the recent face transplant has raised awareness about the need for organ donation.
(Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff)
April 27, 2009
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Kevin J. O'Connor is the senior vice president of the New England Organ Bank, and overseer of its clinical activities. The organ bank played a key role in arranging the face transplant - New England's first, the nation's second - done earlier this month at Brigham and Women's hospital. That landmark procedure drew new attention to organ donation efforts. We asked O'Connor to reflect on recent events, as well as the broader issues at stake. Here is an edited version of the interview.
BINA VENKATARAMAN
Q. How has the news coverage of the face transplant changed your work?
A. It certainly has raised awareness about the need for organ donation - the benefits of transplantation as well as the benefits to the donors. Our hope is that it will encourage more people to donate organs.
Q. Have the types of organs that can be donated changed over time?
A. Still, today, the majority of organs that are transplanted are kidneys. But over the past 15 or 20 years, the techniques for transplanting hearts, lungs, pancreas, liver, and small intestines have all been well developed. So today, a young and otherwise healthy organ donor can provide up to eight organs for transplantation and the prospects for success on the recipient side are better than ever.
Q. Do people donate enough organs to support all the transplants now possible?
A. The need for life-saving organs by far outstrips the supply. In the United States, about 2.5 million people die each year. And yet, only about 8,000 donate their organs each year.
Q. Are more people donating their organs than in the past?
A. There had been an increase in organ donation, from about 6,000 organ donors nationwide in 2002 to about 8,000 in 2006. But in the last three years, that plateau (of 8,000) has been maintained. At the same time, the average age of patients who become organ donors is increasing. The net effect . . . is that to some extent the quality of the organs available for transplantation is declining.
Q. Are there myths about organ donation that persist?
A. One myth is that if patients indicate their intent to donate their organs, they may not receive the optimum care in the hospital. That of course couldn't be further from the truth. Another myth is that wealthy, famous celebrity-types will have preferential access to donated organs. That's not at all the case.
Q. What can people do to ensure their organs will be donated after they die?
A. They can indicate their intent . . . at the time of drivers' license renewal. And in the next few months, the New England Organ Bank will have a Web-based registration site.
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