If you’ve ever watched a medical drama, you’ve probably seen a scene or two about organ donation or transplantation. From life-or-death decisions in the emergency room to the race against time to deliver an organ, these moments make for compelling television.
While shows like Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Doctor and Chicago Med have helped bring organ donation into the spotlight, they’re also designed to simply entertain. That means many parts of the donation process are simplified, dramatized or compressed to fit into a one-hour episode.
So, how much of what we see on TV is fiction? Let’s separate Hollywood from reality and take a closer look at what really happens during the real organ donation process.
🎬Example #1: “If I’m a registered donor, doctors won’t try as hard to save me.”
TV trope: A patient arrives in critical condition, and conversations about donation seem to happen almost immediately, creating the impression that doctors are already thinking about organ recovery.
Reality: In real life, the medical team in an emergency is completely independent from any transplant professionals. Their only focus is saving the patient’s life. Organ donation is only considered after every lifesaving effort has been exhausted and death has been declared.
Plus, team members from an organ procurement organization would determine a patient’s suitability for donation, not the medical team in the ER or ICU.
This example is a popular one, so we’ve written a whole separate blog about it! Read more about this topic: Why Doctors Will Not Let You Die If You’re A Registered Organ Donor.
🎬 Example #2: A general surgeon decides who gets the organ.
TV trope: A doctor passionately argues that “their patient” deserves the organ and appears to influence who receives it.
Reality: Individual surgeons don’t choose recipients. A national organ waiting list, managed by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) matches organs based on medical criteria, compatibility, urgency, distance and other established factors through an atomized computer system that emphasizes fairness. Only then can the corresponding organ transplant surgeon decide to accept or decline a donated organ offer for their patient.
Read how UNOS specifically matches people at How we match organs.
🎬 Example #3: Families can stop organ donation if someone is already registered.
TV trope: A grieving family is shown deciding whether their loved one will become an organ donor, even though the patient had previously registered.
Reality: When someone registers as an organ donor, they are making a legally binding decision according to the law (Uniform Anatomical Gift Act) to give the gift of life. That decision is honored and it is unlawful to behave in a way to prevent that from happening. Donation professionals work closely with donor families throughout the process, answering questions and providing compassionate support. At the same time, a registered donor’s authorization is not something family members can revoke.
Keep in mind: Anyone can register at 15 ½ or older in Arizona. If a potential donor hasn’t turned 18 yet, the family would still have to give final approval.
🎬 Example #4: One surgeon does everything.
TV trope: A single surgeon diagnoses the patient, speaks with the family, coordinates the donor, recovers the organ, transports it and performs the transplant — all while leading every major decision along the way.
Reality: In real life, organ donation and transplantation are true team efforts. Dozens of professionals may be involved, including ICU nurses, physicians, organ recovery coordinators, donation specialists, laboratory professionals, organ transplant surgeons, anesthesiologists, transportation teams and many others. The list goes on. Each person plays a vital role in honoring the donor’s gift and helping it reach the right recipient – while their work is very segmented to prevent both actual and perceived conflicts of interest.
The Bottom Line
Medical dramas are designed to entertain us. They keep us on the edge of our seats with emotional storylines, split-second decisions and larger-than-life characters. While many of these shows have helped spark conversations about organ donation, they don’t always reflect how the donation process works in real life – the problem being that sometimes that’s the only way some people may get their information.
When it comes to organ donation, it’s important to remember that TV isn’t reality. If you have questions about becoming a donor, how the donation process works, or what happens after someone registers, look to trusted sources for accurate information. Organizations like Donor Network of Arizona and Donate Life America provide reliable, up-to-date resources to help you separate facts from fiction.
The next time you see a transplant storyline on your favorite medical drama, enjoy the episode, but remember that behind every real-life donation is a compassionate team of professionals, a generous donor and family, and a carefully coordinated, complex process that makes the gift of life possible.
To register as an organ and tissue donor in Arizona, click here.