Abstract
Organ donation is the transplantation of an organ from one person to another. This includes solid organs as well as blood products, bone marrow and skin. It is a life-prolonging operation for patients with organ failure, either from the primary effects of disease on an organ or the secondary effects of a disease process. The demand for organ donation currently vastly outnumbers supply, both nationally and internationally, and the number of patients requiring organ donation continues to rise. This article explores the different types of organ donation and how a GP can both promote and facilitate the donation process.
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