Organs Essay, Research Paper

INTRODUCTION /ATTENTION STEP A. 1. Imagine that a loved one has just been severely injured in a car accident. 2. The injuries include brain trauma, broken bones, but most notably, a loss of two pints of blood, that your friend is in desperate need of. 3. Coincidentally your blood type matches. 4. Picture yourself at the scene of the accident. 5. Put yourself in the hospital waiting room, anticipating news from the doctors, hoping that your friend will survive. 6. What would you say when the doctor approaches you and tells you that in order to save your friends life, you must donate. B 1. Now hold that thought with one more element added. 2. You were in the car, however you were not as lucky as your friend. 3. You are now a victim token by the car crash. 4. Wouldn t you still hope to save a friend s life as your last wish? 5. Would you give any other organ necessary for your friend s survival? Your heart ? Your kidneys? Your liver? It s a matter of life and death. 6. If you had designated on your driver s license or carried some other means to communicate your decision to be an organ donor, your friends life could have been saved. TRANSITION: Does your driver s license designate you as an organ donor? BODY /PROBLEM STEP A. 1. Upon encountering this subject, much negative stigma is attached to the implications of organ donation. 2. The reality is, as we all know, that we are not invincible, and someday every one s time will come to an end. 3. The act of organ donation is a significantly compassionate and humane choice for a person to make. TRANSITION: Organ donation is a subject that affects all of us, but it is largely misunderstood. I will attempt to clarify the situation with B: SOME COMPELLING FACTS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION 1. Doctors remark transplantation as one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of medicine. 2. Organ transplantation is an operation that is safe, lifesaving, and the technology that supports it is continually expanding. 3. As reported by the Coalition on Donation, 65,000 Americans are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Meaning that their life is entirely dependent upon receiving the organ. 4. Tragically, every day 12 people will die awaiting a transplant. 5. That s over 4,000 people a year. Thankfully one donor can help more than fifty people in need. 6. Of the 2-million people who die in the United States each year, approximately 14,000 are believed to be viable organ donors, yet only 5,000 of these actually become donors. The remaining 9,000 are lost. At an average of 5 lives saved per Donor, that represents 45,000 lives lost each year – needlessly. (*see pie chart) C MYTHS ABOUT ORGAN DONATION 1. MYTH: Some Major Religions oppose organ donation. 2. FACT: All mainstream religions support organ donation and consider it a benevolent charitable act. 3. MYTH: Organ donation disfigures the body, making an open casket funeral impossible. 4. FACT: Organ Donation does not disfigure the body and does not interfere with funeral plans, including open casket services. 5. MYTH: Only heart, liver and kidneys can be transplanted. 6. FACT: The heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines are the organs that can be donated. Tissue that can be donated include the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves and tendons. TRANSITION: There is much more information readily available for furthering your understanding of the subject. D SOLUTION STEP/ PROJECTION STEP 1. For those who would like to know more about organ donation and how to pledge to be an organ donor, you can visit the web-site HTTP://www.organdonor.gov/contents.htm 2. Here you will find answers to all of your questions with links to most every resource available on the web. ACTION STEP TRANSITION: I hope that all of you will at least look this up next time that you are on the internet. Taking few a minutes of your time today may give others a chance to enjoy a lifetime. CONCLUSION 1. I urge you all to decide to be an organ donor. 2. If you do choose to be an organ donor, you should share your decision. 3. As the law stands today, it is ultimately up to the family, regardless of age, whether or not your decision will be upheld. 4. It is extremely important to tell your family about your intentions for organ donation. 5. The department of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) emphasize that sharing the decision to become a donor is just as important as making the decision itself 1. With the overwhelming demand for organ and tissue donors, the choice to be an organ donor is imperative. 2. If you value life, if you value others, choosing to be an organ donor is a moral obligation. 3. If you are still considering the question, and are not sure, the dept. of Health and Human Services provides this guidance. You could help 50 people if you decide to donate your organs and tissues: Your heart could beat for someone else. Your lungs could breathe for someone else. Your kidneys could free two people from dialysis. Your liver could save the life of a patient awaiting transplantation. Your corneas could give sight to two people. Your bone could help repair other peoples damaged joints. Your skin could help heal many burn victims. In closing I will leave you with the message of the public service announcement video posted on this web site. It doesn t matter who you are, or what you drive, or where you live. You have the power to give someone the greatest gift in the world. Life Talk to your family about organ donation. Talk to your family about donating Life. A. Analysis of audience B. Trope figures of speech What would you say when the doctor approaches you and tells you that in order to save your friends life, you must donate. (rhetorical question) Your heart ? Your kidneys? Your liver? (repetition) C. Two fully structured enthememes Hypothetical Major: If you value life, if you value others, choosing to be an organ donor is a moral obligation. Minor: You do value life/others. Conclusion: Choosing to be an organ donor is a moral obligation Major: If the number of needed organ transplants exceeds the number of organs being received, more people need to become donors to save lives. Minor: The number of needed organ transplants exceeds the number of organs being received Conclusion: More people need to become donors to save lives. D. Two motive appeals Self respect Respect for life Loyalty to friends/family Sympathy/generosity E. Bibliography Coalition on Donation 1100 Boulders Parkway, Suite 500 Richmond, Virginia 23225-8770 phone 804-330-8620, fax 804-323-7343 Dept. of Health and Human Services in conjunction with the department of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) HTTP://www.organdonor.gov/contents.htm HTTP://WWW.ORGANDONOR.COM http://www.shareyourlife.org/leadstory_2000_04_14_notdaw.htm