A donation can sometimes change the lives of more than one person!

The Perfusion Club, affiliated with the Health, Culture and Sports (HCS) Department of Üsküdar University, organized an “Organ Donation Awareness Seminar.” Başkent University Istanbul Hospital Organ Transplant Coordinator Güzide Özdemir attended the seminar as a guest. Emphasizing that organ donation is a human and social responsibility as much as it is a medical one, Özdemir spoke about the social importance of organ donation, the concept of brain death, and organ transplantation processes. The seminar also aimed to disseminate correct information regarding organ donation and increase awareness.

The seminar held at NP Sağlık Yerleşkesi Ibn-i Sina Auditorium attracted great interest from academics and students.

Prof. Ali Kocailik: “Türkiye is on par with the world”

Prof. Ali Kocailik, Head of the Perfusion Department at Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, gave a speech at the event, touching upon historical developments in organ transplantation and providing information on the first heart transplant studies conducted worldwide and in Türkiye. Kocailik stated that organ transplant surgery has developed as a result of many years of scientific studies and experimental research; “As heart surgery, Türkiye is keeping pace with the world. Whatever is available in the world is applied in Türkiye within 1-2 years. We are quite successful.”

Güzide Özdemir: “The source of human spare parts is still human” 

Güzide Özdemir, Organ Transplant Coordinator at Başkent University Istanbul Hospital, stated that organ transplantation is a medically important treatment method and that despite technological advancements, the source of organs is still human. Özdemir stated that artificial organ studies are promising but not yet widely usable, adding, “We take an organ and transplant it to another person, but unfortunately, the organ source is not produced in factories. The source of human spare parts is still human itself.” For this reason, Özdemir emphasized that organ donations from cadavers are vitally important.

“It represents the beginning of a new life”

Özdemir, pointing out that organ donation can evoke strong emotions in people; “The first time I attempted to make an organ donation, I entered the system for both myself and my spouse. Nothing happened while I was making my own donation, but I realized I started crying while entering my spouse's donation. I didn't understand why that day, then I realized that organ donation had reminded me of death.”

Özdemir emphasized that although the thought of death is present in organ donation, it actually represents the beginning of a new life.

“A donation can sometimes change the lives of more than one person”

Özdemir, drawing attention to some misconceptions about organ donation in society and stating that awareness needs to be increased in this regard, emphasized that organ donation is a life-saving process. Özdemir said; “Organ donation is a very valuable act of solidarity that allows other people to hold onto life after one person loses theirs. A donation can sometimes change the lives of more than one person.”

“One of the greatest legacies a human can leave to another”

Güzide Özdemir emphasized the importance of disseminating correct information about organ donation in society. Özdemir, stressing that organ donation is a life-saving process; “Organ donation is actually one of the greatest legacies a person can leave to others. The organs donated by one person can offer renewed hope for life to many patients on the waiting list. It is very important for young people to be conscious of this issue and to raise awareness about organ donation.” 

The difference between brain death and vegetative state was highlighted

Özdemir stated that one of the most commonly confused issues in society is brain death and vegetative state, and described brain death as an irreversible and definitive state of death. Özdemir also emphasized that vegetative state and brain death are entirely different from each other.

Instructor İsmail Yerli: “We aim to make this technology more accessible in Türkiye”

Instructor İsmail Yerli from the Perfusion Department of the Faculty of Health Sciences drew attention to the increase in organ transplant waiting lists and the critical role of “Ex-vivo Perfusion” technology in this process. Yerli; “While one patient dies during waiting periods, another waits for a transplant. We use this method both to increase organ donation and to salvage organs that become unusable by remaining 'borderline'. Especially the lungs can rapidly be damaged by barotraumatic or volutraumatic factors during the intensive care process and fall below the threshold. At this point, we are working on improving the organ by removing it from the body (ex-vivo). The biggest cost of this process is the special solutions used. We have received approval to develop this solution, currently imported, with 'local and national' resources, and we have started our initial work. Our goal is to make this technology, which comes from abroad at high costs, more accessible and affordable in Türkiye through our own projects.”

After a group photo was taken, the seminar concluded with a visit to the blood donation stand.