NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee advocates for organ donation are highly concerned after seeing an “alarming” number of potential donors drop from the registry over the past several weeks.
In September, Congress heard about a man from Kentucky whose organs were reportedly about to be harvested before doctors realized he was still alive.
Since then, 300 people have dropped from Tennessee’s donor registry, according to Tennessee Donor Services (TDS) CEO Jill Grandas. She said that’s three times the typical drop they see in a state where donor registry is already below the national average.
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“Removing your name from the registry means that someone’s life will not be saved through organ donation,” Grandas said. “We’re concerned when we see those numbers decline.”
As of publication, TDS reported that more than 3,000 people in Tennessee are waiting for organs, with 100,000 waiting nationwide . Grandas added that the impact goes beyond the eight life-saving organs that can come from one person, especially when considering tissue donation.