Why is there a need for organs and tissues for transplant?

Transplantation is no longer considered experimental. It has become an accepted medical treatment for many life threatening diseases. Because of this, many patients are on the national waiting list for a life-saving transplant. Every 14 minutes another person's name is added, and there are currently over 98,000 adults and children in the United States awaiting the gift of life. Thousands more are in need of life enhancing tissue implants.

However, the numbers of donors has not grown as fast as the number of people that need organs and tissue. Sadly, 16 to 18 people die every day in the United States waiting for organ transplants. The need far exceeds the supply.

Who can donate?

Anyone is eligible to be an organ donor unless their cause of death disqualifies their organs and tissues for transplantation. For instance, patients with active cancer or HIV infection are not considered candidates for organ or tissue donation. People who have died by brain death (cessation of brain function usually due to a traumatic injury or stroke) can donate all organs and tissue unless there are other medical reasons that rule them out. Donors who have no cardiac or respiratory function (people whose hearts have stopped) can donate tissue and eyes, and in some cases organs can also be donated. Healthy individuals may also be eligible for living organ donation. A suitable candidate may donate a kidney to a family member or friend, and continue to live a normal healthy life. The same is possible for partial liver and lung donation.

What can be donated?

Organs that may be donated following brain death include heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, and small intestine.  Corneas, skin, bone, heart valves, connective tissue and blood vessels are all examples of tissue grafts that can be donated after cardiac death.  Total body donation for medical research is also an option.

Will the quality of my medical care be compromised if I sign a donor card?

Absolutely not.  The goal of emergency medical technicians along with emergency room and hospital staff is to save your life.  The organ and tissue donation team does not become involved until after it has been determined that all efforts to save a patient’s life have failed.

Will donation interfere with funeral arrangements or viewings?

Donated organs and tissues are removed surgically, as in a routine operation. These procedures do take time and may cause a slight delay in funeral plans. In the hands of a skilled funeral professional, an open-casket viewing should still be able to take place.

Will it cost my family anything to donate?

Any medical expenses incurred due to the donation are paid for by the OPO. A donor's family is not charged for donation. The family is responsible for any other medical care received not related to the donation.

Does my religion approve of organ donation?

All mainstream organized religions approve of organ and tissue donation and consider it an act of charity. Religious groups including Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths support organ and tissue donation as a charitable gift of life consistent with the basic tenets of their faiths. Click here to view individual religion's view on organ donation and transplantation.

Does a patient who is rich or influential receive special consideration in organ distribution?

Although celebrities get most of the media attention, the fact is that thousands of other patients receive donated organs as well. Donor organs are matched to recipients based on blood and tissue type, geographic location, and medical urgency. Organ allocation is blind to wealth or social status. Further, factors such as race, gender, age or celebrity status are not considered when determining who receives an organ.

How long do you have to wait for an organ?

Factors that affect waiting times are patient medical status, the availability of donors in the local area, and the level of match between the donor and recipient. Organs are usually first made available to the most critical patients in the region where the organ was donated. If there is no medical match in that area, then the organ is offered to patients in a broader geographic area.

Why should minorities be particularly concerned about organ donation?

Minorities suffer end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a very serious life-threatening kidney disease, much more frequently than do caucasians. Asian Americans are three times more likely than caucasians to develop ESRD; hispanics are three times as likely, and African Americans are twice as likely as caucasians to develop ESRD. ESRD is treatable with dialysis, but dialysis can result in a poor quality of life for the patient. The preferred treatment of ESRD is kidney transplantation. Transplantation offers the patient freedom from dialysis to lead a more normal life and can successfully cure ESRD for many years. As with any transplant procedure, it is very important to assure a close match between donor and recipient blood types and genetic make-up. Members of different racial and ethnic groups are usually more genetically similar to members of their own group than they are to others. (For example, African Americans are usually more genetically similar to other African Americans than they are to caucasians). It is important, therefore, to increase the minority donor pool so that good matches can be made as frequently as possible for minority patients.

What are the steps involved in donation?

Hospitals notify the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) of the death of a patient. The OPO staff makes an initial determination about medical suitability for organ and tissue donation, then a trained donation professional (Procurement Coordinator) further evaluates the patient for all donation options. The Coordinator will determine if the potential candidate is a registered donor and, if not, will offer the option of donation to the legal next-of-kin.  The Coordinator will stay with the donor's family and provide support during the donation process. Immediately after the organs are surgically removed from the donor, the OPO staff arranges their timely transport to the appropriate transplant centers. If the patient is also a tissue donor, the tissues will be surgically removed from the patient and transported to the associated tissue banks for further processing and storage. Some tissues may be implanted up to 10 years after the actual recovery.

What organs and tissues can be donated?

Needed organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. Tissues that can be donated include corneas, skin, bone, heart valves, blood vessels, and connective tissue.

Can I specify what organs I wish to donate?

Yes, you may specify this on your uniform donor card. It is also important to make your family aware of your intentions to ensure that you wishes are followed.

What should I do if I want to donate my organs and tissues?

When receiving or renewing a Connecticut or Massachusetts driver’s license, you will be asked if you wish to become an organ and/or tissue donor.  The information you provide goes into a donor registry database accessible by the organ procurement organization (OPO) in the event you are eligible to give the gift of life. In Massachusetts, please be sure to check "yes" to donation on your renewal form. If you register as a donor in Connecticut or Massachusetts, this is considered legal consent for donation.  It is also very important to make your wishes known to your family.  

As a donor, you have the power to save and improve the lives of over 50 people.

Where can I get more information about organ and tissue donation?

If you would like more information about organ and tissue donation, please contact LifeChoice Donor Services. Click here to contact us.