Persuasive Speech
Pictures like that of the girl in the hospital bed are ones that are seen all over the world. Living in a small room connected to mountains of cords while waiting for someone to be their hero. Many people may see this as an exaggeration, but it’s not. According to unos.org since that video was made in 2008 the number of people needing transplants has risen dramatically, from 97,000 to over 109,000 (This number updated 11-28-10). Today still an average of 18 people will die each day waiting for a transplant. Instead of every 12 minutes, a name is added to the list every 10 minutes. In an article that I read, the author used a useful analogy to organ donation that I would like to share with you. Imagine that tomorrow morning you wake up and find out that you're moving to Hawaii, effective immediately, and you have a closet filled with coats, all of them perfectly usable coats, but all of them now perfectly useless to you. Would you pack up all those coats and take them with you to Hawaii? Would you throw them in the trash heap and forget about them? Or would you leave them behind for someone else to use? The decision to make an organ or tissue donation is far more complex than deciding what to do with a closet full of coats, but the concept is the same.
Myths about organ donation and real facts
1. Doctors are focused on saving your life when you go to the hospital. Most of the time they may not even know that you are an organ donor until afterwards.
2. Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. Organdonor.gov provides religious views on organ donation, so you can check there if unsure about your religion.
3. Neither organ nor tissue donation will affect the burial. There are no visible signs of donation because the donor’s body is fully clothed. If the person donates skin it is taken from the back so it won’t be noticed.
4. The donor’s family is never charged. All expenses for organ removal are paid by the recipient.
5. This isn’t true. People who are organ donors are actually put through more tests (at no cost to the family) than people who are not organ donors to make sure they are actually deceased.
How can you become an organ donor? It doesn’t take to many steps to become an organ donor.
1. You can register at your state donor registry. Go to organdonor.gov find your state and you just fill in the application.
2. When you apply for a new driver’s license check yes! That’s all it takes. Once you check the box an orange dot will be applied to your license and you will be an organ donor.
3. Sign a donor card. If you jut renewed your license you can still fill out a donor card. Cards like this simple to print of the internet and carry with you in your wallet or purse.
4. Finally let your family know. If they understand that you want to be an organ donor, they can be your advocate if you haven’t done any of the above or if you are under 18 years of age.
Below is the PowerPoint Presentation that went along with my speech.
Myths about organ donation and real facts
1. Doctors are focused on saving your life when you go to the hospital. Most of the time they may not even know that you are an organ donor until afterwards.
2. Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. Organdonor.gov provides religious views on organ donation, so you can check there if unsure about your religion.
3. Neither organ nor tissue donation will affect the burial. There are no visible signs of donation because the donor’s body is fully clothed. If the person donates skin it is taken from the back so it won’t be noticed.
4. The donor’s family is never charged. All expenses for organ removal are paid by the recipient.
5. This isn’t true. People who are organ donors are actually put through more tests (at no cost to the family) than people who are not organ donors to make sure they are actually deceased.
How can you become an organ donor? It doesn’t take to many steps to become an organ donor.
1. You can register at your state donor registry. Go to organdonor.gov find your state and you just fill in the application.
2. When you apply for a new driver’s license check yes! That’s all it takes. Once you check the box an orange dot will be applied to your license and you will be an organ donor.
3. Sign a donor card. If you jut renewed your license you can still fill out a donor card. Cards like this simple to print of the internet and carry with you in your wallet or purse.
4. Finally let your family know. If they understand that you want to be an organ donor, they can be your advocate if you haven’t done any of the above or if you are under 18 years of age.
Below is the PowerPoint Presentation that went along with my speech.
organ_donation.pptx | |
File Size: | 322 kb |
File Type: | pptx |