If the organ is unsuitable for transplantation at the time of the donation, the organ is not recovered from the donor. If an organ cannot be used for transplantation, it may be useful for research. Research often helps the medical community in its effort to find cures for diseases such as cancer, or find help for health conditions such as diabetes. Grief-stricken family members have often said their sorrow has been eased by the knowledge that their personal tragedy gave new life to another person and that it provided some meaning to an otherwise senseless death. Many more families today are raising the issue of organ donation themselves because they are aware of its lifesaving value.
Brain death is death.
It occurs when the brain and the brain stem stop functioning. Examples of injuries that cause brain death include trauma to the head from a bike or motor vehicle accident, a ruptured blood vessel in the brain, or drowning. A person can only become an organ donor if he or she dies from a brain death injury. The brain is an organ like all the other organs in the body. It requires a steady blood supply to deliver the oxygen and nutrients it needs to do its work.