Continuing Medical (Anatomy) Education Series: Organ Donation and Transplantation, a Means of Continuity of Functional and Independent Life and Living

Abstract

Diseases and disease processes are key components of life and living. The understanding and appreciation of this axiom will impact greatly on the quality and standard of human health and life. The human body is bedeviled by a myriad of diverse and large spectrum of pathologies. These vary from hereditary, infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, structural degradation, genetic alterations, neoplastic, toxicological injury, ageing and trauma. All these reduce the functionalities of the affected organ/ organ system. There are established first line management strategies for these pathologies, however more often than not, they may not suffice. At this stage, the replacement of such organ becomes the only option for optimal quality of life or continuity of life. This can only be achieved through tissue and organ donation and transplantation. Over the decades, steady advancements are being made in the medical field of human tissue and organ donation and transplantation. Thus it becomes pertinent for students of human medicine to be well and adequately educated on the issues that relate to the donations of human tissues and organs and their transplantation. Such issues covered in this article include global statistics on organ donation and transplantation; historical antecedents of organ donation and transplantation; sources of organ transplants; tissue transplants; set guidelines and standards by The World Health Organization, The European Parliamentary Research Services and The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Nigeria.