News & Events
For the Media
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Thank you for your interest in the New York Organ Donor Network, the second largest federally designated nonprofit organ procurement in the United States, which serves the greater New York metropolitan area. There is a great deal of interest in New York City's pilot program to increase organ donation. It's attempting to increase kidney donation for those individuals who enrolled as donors but who don't die in the hospital. See some of the media coverage. |
Please spend a few minutes reviewing "Preferred Terminology". It explains why families of deceased donors find certain words like “cadaveric” and “harvest” to be extremely hurtful. |
Contact the Communications Department
Media Kit
What is the New York Organ Donor Network? (PDF)
Service Area Map (PDF)
The Need (PDF)
8 Facts (PDF)
Q&A (PDF)
Religious Views (PDF)
Preferred Terminology
Language plays an important role in the misconceptions and fears about organ, tissue and eye donation. For example, a person who is brain dead can’t be on “life support.”
Instead, the organs are perfused with oxygen for several hours by means of a ventilator or mechanical support.
In May 2005, specific terminology was approved by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations’ (AOPO) Donor Family Council.
- The council reasoned that avoiding words and phrases that cause concern among donor families and the general public will increase both understanding and acceptance of the donation process.
- These terminology updates are unanimously supported by the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS), and have been adopted by the American Journal of Transplantation.
We thank you for using words and phrases in a sensitive manner when reporting on the topic of donation and transplantation.
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Instead of |
Please use |
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“Harvest organs” or “Harvesting organs” |
“Recover organs” or “Recovering organs” |
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“On life support” when someone is brain dead |
“On a ventilator” or “On mechanical support” |
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“Removed life support” when someone is brain dead |
“Removed the ventilator” or “Removed mechanical support” |
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“Cadaver” or “Cadaveric donor” |
“Deceased person/individual” or “Deceased donor” |
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“Progressing to brain death” |
“Deteriorating to brain death” |
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“Declare brain death” |
“Determine brain death” |
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“Body parts” |
“Organs, eyes and/or tissues.” |
Contact the Communications Department
Members of the media may reach Julia Rivera, the New York Organ Donor Network’s Director of Communications, at any time on our general telephone number: 646-291-4444.
During normal office hours, you may also reach her at 646-291-4456 or jrivera@nyodn.org.
In the event that Ms. Rivera is unavailable, please contact Angela Palmieri at 646-291-4461 or apalmieri@nyodn.org.
