African-American Organ Donation Could Increase With One Step: Discussing Wishes With Family

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 06 Nov 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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With more African Americans than ever on the waiting list for an organ transplant, a new survey finds that half (49 percent) of African Americans want their organs donated upon death, and most (80 percent) consider saving lives the top reason for becoming an organ donor. But more than half of them (56 percent) have not talked to their families about it - a key step to becoming an organ donor.

"Family discussion about organ donation is one of the most important steps in the process of becoming an organ donor, but African Americans still are not having this crucial conversation before there's a crisis in the family," said Gwendolyn B. Lee, Ph.D., National President of The Links, Incorporated. "We are urging people to have this conversation today, and we want to give them the tools, time and place to start the dialogue."

The survey, commissioned by The Links, Incorporated, also found that African-American families are more than twice as likely (91 percent vs. 43 percent) to donate family members' organs upon their death if they know of their wishes to be an organ donor. Funding for the survey was provided by Roche, which has partnered with The Links, Incorporated over the past five years on "Linkages to Life," an annual campaign to raise awareness about organ donation in the African-American community.

The Links, Incorporated, the largest African-American women's service group, and Roche are calling for a "Day of Discussion," in conjunction with church programs on organ donation happening across the country on National Donor Sabbath, November 12.

"This is an important conversation, and it is not going to start by itself," said Dr. Lee. "Our survey showed nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of African Americans who have discussed organ donation initiated the conversation themselves. Our entire membership, which is 11,000 strong and growing, is personally appealing to friends and colleagues nationwide to discuss their organ donation wishes with their families today."

To aid in initiating the organ donation discussion, The Links, Incorporated and Roche are distributing free Can We Talk? conversation starter guides that offer simple tips and practical advice for this important dialogue. The guides are being distributed at Linkages to Life church events and also are available on www.linksinc.org.

"Organ transplantation saves lives, but the only way we can continue is through more people stepping forward as donors," said Velma P. Scantlebury, M.D., FACS, Professor of Surgery, and Director of Transplantation, at the University of South Alabama's Regional Transplant Center. "There is a need in our community for more open dialogue about this issue, because the demand for lifesaving organ transplants continues to grow at astounding rates."

Fifth Anniversary of Linkages to Life

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Linkages to Life™ Organ, Tissue and Bone Marrow Donation Awareness Program, which has reached tens of thousands of people through church events across the country. Linkages to Life is conducted by The Links, Incorporated and Roche.

The Linkages to Life program, in predominantly African-American churches nationwide on Sunday, November 12 - as part of the National Donor Sabbath declared by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - is urging families to talk about organ donation. Linkages to Life events feature local organ donors, recipients and transplant medical professionals at church services sharing personal stories and health information, in an effort to dispel myths about organ donation and encourage more people to consider becoming organ donors.

For resources on organ donation and transplantation, information on the Linkages to Life program and a free copy of the Can We Talk? guide, please visit http://www.linksinc.org.

The survey was conducted by Braun Research, Inc. in September-October 2006. A total of 500 interviews were conducted among a nationally representative sample of African-Americans adults 18 years of age and older with a margin of error of +/- 4 percent.

About The Links, Incorporated

The Links, Incorporated is a not-for-profit organization, founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1946. Its more than 11,000 members are women of African ancestry, linked by 273 chapters around the globe. Programs of The Links, Incorporated are designed to enrich, sustain and ensure the identities, culture and economic survival of all people of African origin. Visit http://www.linksinc.org to learn more about The Links, Incorporated and Linkages to Life.

About Roche

Roche, based in Nutley, N.J., is the U.S. pharmaceuticals headquarters of the Roche Group, one of the world's leading research-oriented healthcare groups with core businesses in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is a leader in the field of transplantation and is committed to further improving the long-term outcomes and quality of life for transplant patients. For more than 100 years, the Roche Group has been committed to developing innovative products and services that address prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, thus enhancing people's health and quality of life. An employer of choice, in 2005, Roche was named one of Fortune magazine's Best Companies to Work For in America, ranked as the No. 3 Best Company to Work For in NJ (NJ Biz magazine), the No. 1 Company to Sell For (Selling Power) and one of AARP's Top Companies for Older Workers. For additional information about Roche's U.S. pharmaceutical business, visit our Web sites: http://www.rocheusa.com or http://www.rochetransplant.com.

Links, Incorporated
http://www.linksinc.org

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