The Halachic Organ Donor Society, also known as the HOD Society, was started in December 2001. Its mission is to save lives by increasing

organ donation Organ donation is the process when a person allows an organ of their own to be removed and transplanted to another person, legally, either by consent while the donor is alive or dead with the assent of the next of kin. Donation may be for re ...

from Jews to the general public (including gentiles). The organization recognizes the legitimate debate in Orthodox Jewish law surrounding

brain stem death Brainstem death is a clinical syndrome defined by the absence of reflexes with pathways through the brainstem – the "stalk" of the brain, which connects the spinal cord to the mid-brain, cerebellum and cerebral hemispheres – in a de ...

and offers a unique organ donor card that allows people to choose between donating organs at brain stem death or alternatively at cessation of heart beat ( asystole). It currently has thousands of members, including more than 350 Orthodox Rabbis and several Chief Rabbis. It has delivered educational lectures that have encouraged more than 34,000 Jews to donate organs.

References

External links

Society Home page
Bereavement in Judaism Organ donation Organizations established in 2001 Orthodox Judaism Jewish medical organizations Jewish medical ethics {{Jewish-org-stub