Organ donation and transplantation have been around for more than half a century, starting with the first successful kidney transplant in 1954. To put this in perspective, that’s longer than space travel has been around!

Despite its long history, the topic of organ transplants is still surrounded by myths and misconceptions. From donation eligibility to the process itself, misinformation continues to circulate.

And yet, the number of transplants continues to rise year after year. In 2021, a record-breaking 41,000 surgeries were performed in the U.S. alone.

These are the top myths about organ donation and transplantation – debunked in our recent eBook, Transforming Organ Transplantation Through Innovation.

Organ Donation Myths

MYTH #1: Doctors won’t try to save my life in a medical emergency if they know I’m an organ donor.

FACT: This misconception can discourage people from registering as organ donors. But it’s untrue.

Hospital staff and doctors will do everything in their power to save your life. Organ transplant teams aren’t notified until all life-saving efforts have failed.

MYTH #2: There’s a cost to donating.  

FACT:  You and your family won’t be charged for donating. There may be costs associated with efforts to save your life unrelated to organ removal but your family’s financial obligations end with the final efforts to save your life.  

MYTH #3: Only the deceased can donate organs.

FACT: Living donor donation is becoming increasingly common. In 2021, more than 6,500 organs and tissues were donated by living people.

Kidney transplants are the most common organ from a living donor but donations like liver or other organ segments are also possible.

MYTH #4: Donors must be family members.

FACT: Doctors match the donor to the patient using various criteria, including blood type. Family members can be a match, but they’re not the only possible match. In fact, many donors are altruistic.

MYTH #5: Only young and healthy people can be donors.

FACT: There is no set age limit or health status for donation. The decision to use your organs is based on strict medical criteria, and doctors evaluate each potential donor on a case-by-case basis.

Transonic and Transplants

Organ donation is at the crossroad of cutting-edge technological advancements and new heights of human caring. Year after year, scientific and medical breakthroughs continue to inspire the world.

At Transonic, we celebrate the innovation and technology that have made life-saving procedures like organ transplants possible. And we pride ourselves on being a part of that story.

Every day, our transit-time ultrasound technology and flow probes are used to support successful transplants. From supporting companies like TransMedics that transport organs to giving medical professionals the tools to measure blood flow during transplantation surgery, our biomedical equipment is a trusted part of the process.

Want to know more about the past, present and future of organ transplantation? Head to our new interactive webpage Organ Transplant Technology Trends.