At my workplace (not the kitchen), I get the opportunity to interact with people coming from all over the world, and correspondingly, from widely varied perspectives. If it weren’t for the wealth of knowledge I’ve gained merely through interacting with my clients, I would have never considered sticking around (refer to Decisions, decisions).
With the melting pot phenomenon comes modified communication, ranging from the use of sign language to a multitude of expressions to relay even the simplest of messages. But often, even when we go that extra mile to get a point across, a lot gets lost in translation. (Although on a personal note, I find that happens even when both parties are perfectly fluent in a common language)
Despite living in a developed nation with a moderately tolerant society, the fact that things get lost in translation inevitably leads to absolute frustration. Case in point: asking a client for their organ donor preference.
At face value, it seems harmless to ask someone that question, or maybe that’s just me. Neither am I suggesting that you’ve already been registered an organ donor, nor am I insinuating that you’re the lesser person for saying “Not interested”. Somehow, that question almost always triggers either one of those precise reactions. Why is that?
If not through formal means, people should at the very least let their family or friends know their organ donation preference. Granted, whether or not your wishes will be seen through is quite frankly, in the hands of family or friends present at the time of death. But to find it offensive simply to request your preference is unsettling. Keeping aside the religious aspect of the discussion for now, let’s look at the flip side of the situation. If you were moments away from your last breath, and if the only barrier to realizing that last breath was the availability of an donor match, would you not push aside all your preconceived notions in a heartbeat? Alternatively, if yours was the only kidney available to save a life, say your own sister’s life, would you still find it preposterous for the doctor to ask?
The numbers say it all: in Canada, 2153 organ transplants were performed in 2010. Sounds great eh? Read on: 4529 Canadians remained on the waiting list for an organ transplant, out of which 247 patients died waiting. [Canadian Institute for Health Information: 2010 Summary Statistics]. And we wonder about our chronic issues with wait-times? With a rapidly aging population and couples less inclined to have children, chances that the percentage will increase any time soon are pretty slim. On one hand, we’re cutting down the sheer number of organs or tissue available for patients on those lists; on the other, opportunity for potentially ground breaking medical research dwindles drastically with each generation.
I’m certainly not implying that a “No” to organ donation makes anyone an inconsiderate, heartless person. Not. At. All. The message being relayed is that we give it more than a passing thought, and actually go on to notify near and dear ones of our preferences, whether negative or positive. The hope is that, while things may still get lost in translation today, a few lives may be found again through transplant and research tomorrow.
PS. The hope is also that this article will not be deemed offensive.
