The eye bank relies on members of the community to facilitate donation. When a family or individual makes the decision to donate, it is often due to the humanitarian request by a nurse, chaplain, or other hospital staff member. Nurses and physicians also aid the eye bank in carefully screening each donor for conditions that may adversely affect the outcome of the donation. Other health care professionals play an important role in the screening process as well. From staff in medical records to technicians in the laboratory, transplant safety would be impossible to assure without these dedicated professionals.
Funeral directors spend countless hours donating their time to giving the gift of sight. Many funeral directors are specially trained to remove eye tissue on a volunteer basis. Without their assistance, effectuating donations in the remote parts of the State of Oregon would be very difficult and cost prohibitive. These dedicated individuals provide families an option that would otherwise not be available. Funeral directors are also a vital link in the donation process. By working with the eye bank to facilitate donation, they give families an opportunity to have their loved ones live on through sight restoring transplants and research. |
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