Educational Media Reviews Online

Dying to Live presents the personal stories of four organ transplant patients, their friends and families, and the families of two donors. It raises awareness about the process that many transplant hopefuls experience—the waiting, the anxiety, and the emotional impact of living with a transplant need. The individuals express gratitude and deep personal rewards from providing live organ donation or seeing a deceased loved one’s organs provide a renewed possibility for life.

The one patient who doesn’t receive his transplant outlines the paradox of his situation (and that of other patients like him): Doctors do their best to keep him healthy by continually performing stop-gap surgery, but due to scarce organ resources, his donation chances (based on a hospital rating system) are only boosted if his condition worsens. The doctor of another patient, Dr. Mark Johnson, asserts that organ donations would increase to meet current needs if the United States were to adopt a practice followed in other countries of “presumed consent” for suitable donors, where organ donation is the default, as opposed to our current system of voluntary opting-in for posthumous organ donation.

I expected to find at the end of the program resources or information for those seeking to research or enroll in organ donation programs, but these were not included. Be aware that some of the video footage includes in-surgery images that may be uncomfortable for some to watch. This video may be a good resource for patients waiting for organ donation, considering becoming an organ donor, or seeking to learn about the process and guide others through decision-making. Schools and libraries serving the health sciences fields would do well to add this to their collections.

Recommended

Awards

• Certificate of Merit Documentary, Social/Political, 2011 Hugo Television Awards