Example speech

Example speech
ORGAN DONATION
Ladies and gentlemen, today I am here to share with you my views on organ donation, in the hope that you will take them on board and give someone the ultimate gift after you have left this earth - the gift of life.
Ladies and gentlemen, at this moment in the US there are 79,000 U.S patients on the transplant waiting list. Three thousand a month are added to this total. Not a lot you may say when the population is close to three hundred million, but now add twenty to thirty family and friends to each patient, and the number increases vastly.
Every day between 16 and 17 people die whilst waiting for a transplant. Again you may say not a lot - but in the average mans’ lifetime the death toll is 1,980,160 - almost two million people. Ladies and gentlemen you can help. By donating your vital organs after you have passed away you can save lives.
For the more sentimental of you, of the 79,000 patients waiting for a transplant, over 10 per cent of these are children under 18 years of age.
So, how can you help? All you have to do is get in touch with your local doctor and he will tell you all you need to know. You fill out one form, and receive a card; it really is that easy. Then, once you have passed away in many years to come, your organs will be removed and will give somebody else the chance of life.
After a transplant of a vital organ, the average survival rate is over 80%. A massive increase from the 20% that would live without the surgery.Some people worry. Will they be left open after the surgery as they are already dead, or will they still be able to have an open casket funeral? The answers to these are simple. You will be treated with the up most respect in the surgery and the same procedures apply to the body as a living body. And yes, you will be able to have an open casket funeral if you wish to.
Ladies and gentlemen - the gift of life is the most amazing gift anybody can give. How I see things, and what made me become a donor, is that after I am gone I will have no use for my organs. So why should I deprive someone else from using them.
Please consider what I have said today. Thank you.
Persuasive Speech Topics
· The case for organ donation.
· Why the death penalty should be abolished.
· Why you should become a blood donor
· Volunteering - What can you do about it?

Who Can Donate
Most People Can Donate
You Are Never Too Old
Medical Condition? — Don't Rule Yourself Out
Most People Can Donate Organs and/or Tissue
All people of all ages should consider themselves potential organ and tissue donors. There are few absolute exclusions (HIV positive, active cancer, systemic infection) and no strict upper or lower age limits. Potential donors will be evaluated for suitability when the occasion arises.

You Are Never Too Old
No one is too old or too young. Both newborns and senior citizens have been organ donors. The condition of your organs is more important than age. Someone 35 years old with a history of alcohol abuse may have a liver that is in worse condition than someone 60 years old who has never consumed alcohol. In addition, people on the waiting list might need to be transplanted with an organ that is less than ideal if there is no other suitable organ available in time to save their lives. Doctors will examine your organs and determine whether they are suitable for donation if the situation arises. If you are under 18, you will need the permission of a parent or guardian to donate.


Medical Condition? Don't Rule Yourself Out
You may still be able to donate your organs. Doctors will evaluate the condition of your organs when the time arises. The transplant team’s decision will be based on a combination of factors, such as the type of illness you have had, your physical condition at the time of your death, and the types of organs and tissues that would be donated.


What Can Be Donated
Organs
Tissue
Stem Cells
Blood and Platelets
Organs
The organs of the body that can be transplanted at the current time are kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and the intestines. Kidney/pancreas transplants, heart/lung transplants, and other combined organ transplants also are performed. Organs cannot be stored and must be used within hours of removing them from the donor's body. Most donated organs are from people who have died, but a living individual can donate a kidney, part of the pancreas, part of a lung, part of the liver, or part of the intestine.
Local organ procurement organizations (OPOs) around the country coordinate organ donation. OPOs evaluate potential donors, discuss donation with surviving family members, and arrange for the surgical removal and transport of donated organs. A national computer network, the OPTN (Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network) matches donated organs with recipients throughout the country.
Tissue
Corneas, the middle ear, skin, heart valves, bone, veins, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments can be stored in tissue banks and used to restore sight, cover burns, repair hearts, replace veins, and mend damaged connective tissue and cartilage in recipients.
Stem Cells
Healthy adults between the ages of 18-60 can donate blood stem cells. In order for a blood stem cell transplant to be successful, the patient and the blood stem cell donor must have a closely matched tissue type or human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Since tissue types are inherited, patients are more likely to find a matched donor within their own racial and ethnic group. There are three sources of blood stem cells that healthy volunteers can donate:
Marrow-This soft tissue is found in the interior cavities of bones and is a major site of blood cell production and is removed to obtain stem cells
Peripheral blood stem cells-The same types of stem cells found in marrow can be pushed out into a donor's bloodstream after the donor receives daily injections of a medication called filgrastim. This medication increases the number of stem cells circulating in the blood and provides a source of donor stem cells that can be collected in a way that is similar to blood donation.
Cord blood stem cells-The umbilical cord that connects a newborn to the mother during pregnancy contains blood and this blood has been shown to contain high levels of blood stem cells. Cord blood can be collected and stored in large freezers for a long period of time and therefore, offers another source of stem cells available for transplanting into patients.
Blood and Platelets
Blood and platelets are formed by the body, go through a life cycle, and are continuously replaced throughout life. This means that you can donate blood and platelets more than once. It is safe to donate blood every 56 days and platelets twice in one week up to 24 times a year.
Blood is stored in a blood bank according to type (A, B, AB, or O) and Rh factor (positive or negative). Blood can be used whole, or separated into packed red cells, plasma, and platelets, all of which have different lifesaving uses. It takes only about 10 minutes to collect a unit (one pint) of blood, although the testing and screening process means that you will be at the donation center close to an hour.
Platelets are tiny cell fragments that circulate throughout the blood and aid in blood clotting. Platelets can be donated without donating blood. When a specific patient needs platelets, but does not need blood, a matching donor is found and platelets are separated from the rest of the blood which is returned to the donor. The donor's body will replace the missing platelets within a few hours.

Types of Donation
Organ and Tissue Donation from Living Donors
Donation After Brain Death
Donation After Cardiac Death (DCD)
Whole Body Donation
Organ and Tissue Donation from Living Donors
While most solid organ and tissue donations occur after the donor has died, some organs and tissues can be donated while the donor is alive. The first successful transplant in the U.S. was made possible by a living donor and took place in 1954. One twin donated a kidney to his identical twin brother. As a result of the growing need for organs for transplantation, living donation has increased as an alternative to deceased donation, and about 6,000 living donations take place each year. Most living donations happen among family members or between close friends. Some living donations take place between people unknown to each other.
Solid Organ Donation
Living individuals can donate one of their two kidneys and the remaining kidney provides the necessary function needed to remove waste from the body. Single kidney donation is the most frequent living donor procedure.
A living donor can donate one of two lobes of their liver. This is possible because, just as skin cells grow new skin, liver cells in the remaining lobe of the liver grow or regenerate until the liver is almost its original size. This re-growth of the liver to near its original size occurs in a short period of time in both the liver donor and liver recipient.
It is also possible for living donors to donate a lung or part of a lung, part of the pancreas, or part of the intestines. Although these organs do not regenerate, both the donated portion of the organ and the portion remaining with the donor are fully functioning.
Surprisingly, it is also possible for a living person to donate a heart, but only if he or she is receiving a replacement heart. This occurs only when it is determined that someone with severe lung disease and a normally functioning heart would have a greater chance of survival if he or she received a combined heart and lung transplant. As a result, the heart-lung recipient's own heart, if it’s in good condition, is then donated to an individual who needs only a heart transplant.
Tissue Donation
Tissues donated by living donors are blood, marrow, blood stem cells, and umbilical cord blood. A healthy body can easily replace some tissues such as blood or bone marrow. Blood is made up of white and red blood cells, platelets, and the serum that carries blood cells throughout the circulatory system. Bone marrow contains stem cells. In addition, stem cells found in circulating blood in adults and from the umbilical cord of a newborn also can be donated. Both blood and bone marrow can even be donated more than once since they are regenerated and replaced by the body after donation.
Suitability to Donate
Each potential living donor is evaluated to determine his or her suitability to donate. The evaluation includes both the possible psychological response and physical response to the donation process. This is done to ensure that no adverse outcome, either physically, psychologically, or emotionally, will occur before, during, or following the donation. Generally, living donors should be physically fit, in good health, between the ages of 18 and 60, and not currently have or have had diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or heart disease.
The decision to be a living donor must be weighed carefully as to the benefits versus the risks for both the donor and the recipient. Often, the recipient has very little risk because the transplant will be life saving. However, the healthy donor, does face the risk of an unnecessary major surgical procedure and recovery. Living donors may also face other risks. For example, a small percentage of patients have had problems with maintaining life, disability, or medical insurance coverage at the same level and rate. And, there can be financial concerns due to possible delays in returning to work because of unforeseen medical problems.
Follow-up for Living Donors
The National Institutes of Health is in the process of conducting a study to collect information on the outcomes of living donors over time. At present, follow-up reviews of living donors by some transplant centers show that living donors, on average, have done very well over the long term. However, there are some scientific questions regarding the effects of stress on the remaining organ. There could be subtle medical problems that do not develop until decades after the living donation that are not known at this time because living donation is a relatively new medical procedure. To ensure the safety of all living donors, it is critical that the long term results of the effects of living donation are studied further.
The Decision to Donate
The decision to be a living donor is a very personal one and the potential donor must consider the possibility of health effects that could continue following donation. In most cases, that decision must also take into consideration the life-saving potential for a loved one—the transplant recipient.
Because all of the effects, especially the long term effects, to the donor are not known at this time, the Federal government does not actively encourage anyone to be a living donor. The Federal government does recognize the wonderful benefit that this gift of life provides to the patient awaiting a transplant and has several ongoing programs to study, support, and protect the living donors who do choose to provide this gift.
The decision to say yes to both organ donation after death and/or as a living donor is the focus of many very active and successful research projects that are being conducted across the nation, and these efforts are supported by the Division of Transplantation, Health Resources Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Federal Assistance for Living Organ Donors
In September 2006, HRSA awarded a cooperative agreement to the University of Michigan to establish a national program to provide reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses to living organ donors who cannot afford these expenses. In October 2007, the University of Michigan in partnership with the American Society of Transplant Surgeons launched the National Living Donor Assistance Center to help donors with travel, lodging, and meal expenses associated with the organ donation process. For more information visit the National Living Donor Assistance Center Web site
Donation after brain death
Most of the organs used in transplants come from people who have suffered brain death as the result of an accident, heart attack, or stroke. Brain death is total cessation of brain function, including brain stem function. There is no oxygen or blood flow to the brain; the brain no longer functions in any manner and will never function again.
The organs and tissues that are in good condition are removed in a surgical procedure and all incisions are closed so an open casket funeral can take place. After the organs have been removed, the patient is taken off artificial support.
While organs must be used between 6 and 72 hours after removal from the donor's body (depending on the organ), tissues such as corneas, skin, heart valves, bone, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage can be preserved and stored in tissue banks for later use.
Donation after cardiac death (DCD)
Some patients that have sustained traumatic brain injury cannot be declared dead based on the definition of brain death. In these cases, the patient is declared dead upon cardiac death, which is the cessation of cardiac and respiratory function when the patient is withdrawn from life support.
Donation after cardiac death occurs only after the patient or family has decided to withdraw life-sustaining therapies for reasons entirely apart from any potential for organ donation.
Whole body donation
People who wish to donate their entire body to medical science should contact the medical school or willed body program of their choice and make arrangements to do so before they die. Medical schools need bodies to teach medical students about anatomy, and research facilities need them to study disease processes so they can devise cures. Since the bodies used for these purposes generally must be complete with all their organs and tissues, organ donation is not an option. Some programs, however, make exceptions. You can inform your family that organ donation is your first choice, but if it is found that you are not medically suitable for organ donation, your family can carry out your wishes for whole body donation.

Organ Profiles
§ Heart
§ Lung
§ Intestine
§ Liver
§ Kidney
§ Pancreas
Heart
This organ is a muscular pump that circulates blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to, and wastes from, the body’s cells. The right side of the heart circulates blood to the lungs. The left side circulates blood to the rest of the body and back to the heart.
Diseases and Disorders
§ Cardiomyopathy is an abnormality of the heart muscle. The cause is often unknown. Advanced cases may require a heart transplant.
§ Congestive Heart Failure is a condition resulting from heart disease such as coronary artery disease. The heart no longer pumps enough blood to meet the body’s needs. A heart transplant may be needed if medical treatments fail.
§ Myocarditis is an inflammation of the muscle tissue of the heart, often a complication of various infectious diseases. Severe cases can result in heart failure and require a heart transplant.
§ Congenital Heart Disease is the most common lethal birth defect, and the most common indication for heart transplantation in infants and young children.
Transplant Statistics
§ Each year, about 2,000 heart transplants and fewer than 50 heart-lung transplants are performed.
§ In 2003, around 3,500 people were on the waiting list for a heart transplant and about 200 were waiting for a heart-lung transplant.
§ In 2003, over 450 people died while waiting for a heart transplant.
§ About 85 percent of heart transplant recipients are surviving one year after transplantation.
Interesting Fact
On average, a human heart beats about 2.5 billion times in a person’s lifetime.
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Lung
This pair of organs provides an environment for gas exchange: Oxygen passes into the bloodstream through microscopic air sacs in the lungs, while waste carbon dioxide passes out of the bloodstream into the lungs. Breathing facilitates this exchange of gases.
Diseases and Disorders
A number of diseases and disorders lead to lung transplants each year: cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, and pulmonary edema, among others. People with these conditions usually must lead a very sedentary lifestyle. Many of these conditions are life-threatening.
Transplant Statistics
§ About 1,000 patients receive a lung transplant each year.
§ Each year, about 4,000 people are waiting for a lung transplant.
§ Over 400 people die each year while waiting for a lung transplant.
§ About 75 percent of lung transplant recipients survive the first year.
§ A single lung can save a life. One deceased donor can be the source of two lung transplants.
Interesting Facts
Normal breathing rate at rest for an adult ranges from 15-25 breaths per minute. Duringa 24-hour period, the average number of breaths taken bya human is around 23,040.
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Intestine
The intestine is the part of the alimentary canal that extends from the stomach to the anus. The first part—a long, narrow, and convoluted section is referred to as the small intestine. Its function is to complete the digestion and absorption of digested nutrients into the bloodstream and lymph. The second part—the large intestine—is not usually transplanted.
Diseases and Disorders
Intestine transplants are required when the intestine becomes twisted and blocked or when there is irreversible intestinal failure. Most cases of intestinal failure are caused by short-gut syndrome (a significant loss of length of the small intestine present at birth or as a result of surgical removal or trauma). People with intestinal failure must receive nutrients intravenously. Because long-term intravenous feeding usually causes liver damage, many people who require a small intestine transplant also require a liver transplant at the same time.
Transplant Statistics
§ Around 100 intestine transplants were performed in 2003.
§ In 2003, over 150 patients were on the waiting list for an intestine transplant.
§ In 2003, about 40 people died while waiting for an intestine transplant.
§ The one-year survival rate for intestine transplant recipients is about 60 percent.
§ The majority of intestinal transplants are performed in infants and children.
Interesting Facts
While smaller in diameter than the large intestine, the small intestine is much longer—about 7 meters to the large intestine’s 1.5 meters.
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Liver
This large organ destroys toxic substances in the body and breaks down unwanted protein into the waste product urea. The liver stores some food substances until the body needs them. It also produces a green liquid—bile—that is released into the intestine to help break down large fat droplets into smaller fat droplets to prepare fat for chemical digestion.
Diseases and Disorders
§ Birth defects of the liver or bile duct.
§ Chronic liver infections, such as hepatitis (particularly B and C), which severely damage the liver.
§ Damage from alcohol and other drugs.
§ Damage from blood clots in the liver.
§ The skin of people with liver damage may turn yellow from a condition called jaundice. They also may gain weight and experience general weakness. Because the liver is involved in many metabolic processes, severe liver damage is often fatal.
Transplant Statistics
§ Around 5,000 people receive liver transplants each year.
§ Each year, over 17,000 people are waiting to receive a liver transplant.
§ Each year, about 2,000 people die while waiting for a liver.
§ One year after the surgery, about 85 percent of liver transplant recipients live fairly normal lives.
§ A donated liver can be split between two recipients, so that one deceased donor can be the source of two liver transplants.
Interesting Fact
More heat is produced by the liver than by any other organ in the body.
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Kidney
One of a pair of organs that control the amount of water in the body and filter urea and other wastes into urine. The kidneys also produce a hormone (erythropoietin) that controls the production of red blood cells.
Diseases and Disorders
§ High blood pressure causes kidney damage, can lead to kidney failure, and is—as a result—an important predictor of kidney failure.
§ Diabetes (see pancreas) is a leading cause of kidney failure.
§ Other diseases (cystic kidney diseases) can cause the kidneys to become inflamed or can produce cysts in the kidneys that prevent them from functioning properly.
§ People with severe kidney disease are often placed on dialysis machines
Transplant Statistics
§ About 14,000 kidney transplants are performed each year. Just over one third of transplanted kidneys are from living donors.
§ At any point, about 55,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant.
§ Every year, over 3,000 people die while waiting for a kidney transplant.
§ The one-year survival rate for kidney transplant recipients is about 95 percent.
Interesting Fact
After kidney transplants, most recipients have three kidneys because their own kidneys are usually left in place.
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Pancreas
The pancreas produces two enzymes—insulin and glucagon—that control the level of sugar in the blood. In addition, the pancreas produces a mixture of enzymes, called pancreatic juice, which is released into the small intestine to help digest starch, proteins, and fats.
Diseases and Disorders
§ Malfunction or failure of the pancreas leads to diabetes—an inability to control the level of glucose in the blood.
§ Individuals with this condition are called diabetics and may need insulin to control the level of glucose in the blood. Diabetes can damage or cause the failure of many of the body’s organs. Because patients requiring a pancreas transplant often have kidney disease, the pancreas and kidneys are sometimes transplanted together. Failure to treat diabetes can lead to organ failure and death.
Transplant Statistics
§ In 2003, over 450 people received a pancreas transplant.
§ In 2003, about 1,500 people were on the waiting list for a pancreas.
§ In 2003, about 30 people died while waiting for a pancreas transplant.
§ One year after receiving a pancreas transplant, about 95 percent of recipients are still living.
Interesting Fact
The pancreas has a tremendous reserve capacity for the production of some enzymes. More than 95 percent of the function of the pancreas must be lost before the pancreas fails and symptoms of bloating and poor digestion occur.