Monday, July 21, 2008

By DAN X. McGRAW

Organ donation has moved into cyberspace.

The number of registered organ donors continues to grow across the country since several states - including Texas - have turned to the internet to sign people up.

Health officials and patients say the online registries make it easy for people to donate organs, tissues or eyes upon their death and take the guess work away from relatives who are often left to make such decisions after a family member has died.

"We do everything online now", said Nefeterius McPherson, 33, a Dallas resident who has a liver condition that may one day require a transplant. "We shop online.  We pay bills online.  Why not register as an organ donor online?  It seems silly not to."

More than 161,000 Texans were registered as organ donors on July 1.  That figure includes nearly 100,000 who have joined the Glenda Dawson Donate Life registry since it went online nearly a year ago, state figures show.

Nationally, the number of registrants recorded by Donate Life America has grown from 63 million to 72 million since 2006.

Texas organizers hope to reach the 1 million donor mark within a few years, while national officials are looking to sign up 100 million people.

The web is at the core of their strategy.

Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia now have online registries and several other states are looking to go online, officials said.

Donors can specify the body parts they want to donate and make changes online.

They can also remove their names from the list online.

For Stu Berwick, a 49-year-old Dallas resident, the online registries also allow people to learn more about organ donation.

Mr. Berwick spent five years on the waiting list for heart and lung transplants.  He now manages his pulmonary hypertension with medication, but knows he could be back on those lists if his condition deteriorates.

"It is the easiest and cleanest way to do it," he said.  "It gives everyone a definitive answer.  It is clear what you want."

Monday, July 21, 2008

Por DAN X. McGRAW

La cantidad de donantes de órganos registrados ha estado aumentando en todo el país desde que varios estados –entre ellos Texas– recurrieron a internet para buscarlos.

Autoridades de salud y pacientes dicen que el registro de donantes en línea facilita a una persona donar órganos, tejidos u ojos al morir y libra de conjeturas a sus familiares, quienes muchas veces deben tomar tales decisiones después del deceso.

"Ahora hacemos todo en internet", observó Nefeterius McPherson, de 33 años, habitante de Dallas que padece una dolencia hepática que podría requerir de un transplante. "Compramos en línea, pagamos nuestros recibos en línea, ¿por qué no registrarnos como donantes de órganos en línea? Parecería absurdo no hacerlo".

En Texas, casi 100,000 personas se han apuntado en el registro Glenda Dawson Donate Life desde que fue colocado en internet hace casi un año, según estadísticas del estado.

Más de 161,000 texanos, casi 12,100 en el condado de Dallas, estaban registrados como donantes de órganos hasta el primero de julio.

Un sólo donante puede salvar hasta nueve vidas, según las autoridades.

No obstante, casi 100,000 estadounidenses, de ellos 9,500 texanos, están en espera de un transplante de riñón, corazón, pulmón u otros órganos.

Los organizadores texanos esperan alcanzar la marca del millón de donantes en pocos años, mientras que a nivel nacional se busca el hito de los 100 millones de donantes.