Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation

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KEY POINTS

• Organ and tissue donation and transplantation is the process of removing an organ or tissue from one person and placing it into another person.
• If you want to be a donor, your driver’s license shows your decision. Let your family know that you wish to donate. There is no set age limit for organ or tissue donation.
• If you need a transplant, you must first find a transplant center. Not all hospitals do transplants, and many transplant centers specialize in certain organs or tissues. If you are a candidate, you will be added to the national waiting list.

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What is donation and transplantation?

Organ and tissue donation and transplantation is the process of removing an organ or tissue from one person and placing it into another person. A person may need a transplant if an organ is no longer working, or if organs or tissues have been damaged by disease or injury.

By donating your tissues or organs you can help someone prevent blindness, avoid amputation, or recover after an accident or severe burn. People with certain diseases or birth defects will not live without an organ transplant. One organ donor can save up to 8 lives. One tissue donor can save or improve the lives of up to 50 people.

All of the major religions in the US approve of organ and tissue donation.

Organs that can be donated and transplanted include:

• Kidneys
• Liver
• Heart
• Pancreas
• Intestines
• Lung
• Uterus

Tissues that can be donated and transplanted include:

• Cartilage
• Tendons
• Some bones
• Skin
• Veins and arteries
• Heart valves
• Blood and bone marrow
• Cornea (the clear outer layer on the front of your eye)
• Sclera (the white part of the eye)

Who can donate tissues or organs?

Normally, there is no set age limit if you want to donate. Which organs and tissues can be donated is based on your condition at the time of death. To donate an organ, blood and oxygen must flow through the organ until it is removed.

You may also donate certain organs or tissues while you are alive:

• One kidney
• Parts of the liver, lung, intestine, or pancreas

Living donors must be in good physical and mental health and older than 18 years of age. You may not be able to be a living donor if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, or some mental health problems. If you have HIV, you may be able to donate to someone who also has HIV. Ask the transplant center for more information.

How do I donate tissues or organs?

Your driver’s license shows that you are an organ and tissue donor. You should also let your family know that you wish to donate. Buying and selling of organs and tissues is illegal.

If you want to be a living donor, contact your local transplant center. They will do medical and mental health screening and help you understand risks and benefits. For example, being a living donor could cause problems getting health or life insurance in the future, or cause your insurance costs to go up.

What is the procedure for getting a transplant?

If you need a transplant, you must first find a transplant center. Not all hospitals do transplants, and many centers specialize in certain organs or tissues. A healthcare team will examine you and decide if you are a good candidate. If you are a candidate, you will be added to the national waiting list.

When donor organs become available, the donor’s blood type, weight, organ size, and age will be checked against those on the waiting list. The check also includes how long people have been on the waiting list and how life-threatening their conditions are. The organ is offered first to the transplant center with the person who is the best match. If that does not work out, the transplant center with the next person on the list is contacted.

People on the waiting list in the local area are given the first chance for the organs or tissues. Organs must be transplanted quickly because they stay healthy only for a short time after removal from the donor. For example, the heart and lungs can survive outside the body for about 4 to 6 hours, livers up to about 12 hours, and kidneys up to about 36 hours.

For more information, contact:

• Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients
  http://www.srtr.org/csr/current/Centers/Default.aspx
  877-970-7787
• US Department of Health and Human Services
  http://organdonor.gov/index.html
• United Network for Organ Sharing
  https://www.unos.org/
  804-782-4800