Organ donation is the surgical removal of a person's organs or tissues for transplantation to another person for the purpose of replacing an organ damaged by disease or injury . The organs and tissues that can be transplanted are liver, kidney, pancreas, heart, lungs, intestine, cornea, middle ear, skin, bone, bone marrow, heart valves and connective tissues. Everyone, regardless of age, can consider themselves potential donors. After death, you are assessed for eligibility for organ donation based on your medical history and age, as determined by the Organ Procurement Agency (Cleveland Clinic). The main advantage of this medical intervention is that it is designed to save people's lives: one organ can save eight lives. For a recipient, it means it is a second chance at life to not have to depend on expensive routine treatments to survive and live a normal lifestyle. The family of a deceased donor could console themselves by thinking that their loved ones did not die in vain, but continue to live on the lives of others. The only negative aspects of organ donation would be the misconceptions. Families often believe that donor bodies were kept on life support while tissue was removed, which is not entirely true. Surgeons do not remove organs or tissue unless you are declared brain dead or dead. Another disadvantage of this procedure is the fact that the donor cannot choose who will receive the organ, however there are organizations that arrange a meeting between the recipient and the donor although this can happen in rare cases (Emory Health Care). This study will examine organ donation practices and its future medical advancements.2. Idea from the pastBeyond the last cent...... middle of paper...... organs that can be transplanted. Works Cited Cleveland Clinic (n.d.) Organ Donation and Transplantation. Retrieved February 12, 2014, from http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/organ_transplant/hic_organ_donation_and_transplantation.aspxEmory Health Care (n.d.) Pros and Cons of Organ Donation. Retrieved February 12, 2014, from http://advancingyourhealth.org/transplant/2013/04/01/pros-cons-organ-donation/Nadiminti, H. (2005) Organ Transplantation: A dream of the past, a reality of the present, an ethical challenge for the future. Retrieved February 12, 2014, from http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/2005/09/fred1-0509.htmlOrgan Transplants: A Brief History (February 21, 2012) Retrieved from History in the Headlines website: http: // www.history.com/news/organ-transplants-a-brief-historyShelley, JL (2010) History of organ transplantation. University of Des Moines.