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Becoming a Donor | Frequently Asked Questions | How Donation Works
Myths & Misconceptions | Religious Viewpoints | Trends & Waiting List
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About organ and tissue donation
About registering as a donor
About living donation
What organs and tissues can be donated?
Major organs that can be donated for transplant are the liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine. Tissues that can be donated are the corneas, bone, saphenous and femoral veins, heart valves and skin.
What organs and tissues are most needed?
Corneas and kidneys are needed most in terms of the number of people waiting. In terms of lifesaving ability, hearts, lungs and livers are needed most.
Who can be a donor?
Virtually anyone regardless of age, race or gender can become an organ and tissue donor. Donors typically are healthy people who have suffered from a life-ending trauma and are declared dead. Medical eligibility depends on many factors and must be determined after the donor's death.
Are there costs associated with organ and tissue donation?
There is no cost to the donor's family or estate. All costs associated with the donation are covered by the organ procurement organization (OPO). Organ donation is a gift and it is illegal in the United States to buy or sell organs or tissues.
Does my religion support organ and tissue donation?
The vast majority of religious groups support donation as the highest gesture of humanitarianism. Some religions have taken a proactive stance with a resolution or adopted a position that encourages people to seriously consider donation and plan accordingly.
Does organ and tissue donation disfigure the body?
Organs and tissues are recovered in a surgical procedure that does not disfigure the body and will not interfere with customary funeral arrangements. Open-casket visitation, burial and cremation are all possible.
When must organs be removed?
Organs must be removed as soon as possible after the determination of brain death, while circulation and respiration are being maintained artificially. Tissues may be removed within 12 to 24 hours after death.
How long can organs and tissues survive before being transplanted?
Organs may be transported hundreds or thousands of miles to reach recipients waiting in transplant centers, thanks to advances in medical technology and improved preservation techniques. Approximate preservation times are:
Heart/lung: 4 to 6 hours
Pancreas: 12 to 24 hours
Liver: Up to 24 hours
Kidneys: 48 to 72 hours
Corneas: Must be transplanted within 5 to 7 days
Heart valves, skin, bone, saphenous veins: May be preserved from 3 to
10 years
Can organs be donated to someone of a different race or ethnicity?
Yes. Organ size is critical to match donor and recipient hearts, livers and lungs. But genetic makeup is also important when matching kidneys; therefore, African-Americans will "match" better with a kidney donated from an African-American than any other race—as will Asians with Asians, etc.
How is a potential recipient identified?
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains the national computer system listing of donors and candidates for transplant. Recipients are identified through a comprehensive evaluation of medical compatibility, including size and blood type, medical urgency and geographic location. The social or financial positions of the recipient are not factors in determining who is transplanted.
Does the donor’s family get to meet the recipient?
A donor’s family will be told the age, sex, state and other general characteristics of recipients. If both the donor family and the recipient agree to release information to one another, they may exchange names, correspond and even meet. This process is coordinated through the organ procurement organization.
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To ensure your wishes to donate are honored, register your legal decision in the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry. If you live in Indiana, register in Donate Life Indiana.org. It is also recommended that you inform family members, so they know what to expect.
Can I change my mind after I sign up in the new registry?
Yes. Simply contact the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office or the Indiana Donation Alliance Foundation to request that your name be removed from the donor registry.
Will the quality of my medical care ever be compromised if I
register as a donor?
No. Donation is not considered until all possible efforts to save your life have failed and death has been declared. The transplant team has no involvement in patient care prior to death and is notified only after death has occurred.
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What is a living donor?
A living donor has given part of an organ (liver, lung or pancreas) or one kidney from his/her own living body for transplantation, usually to a family member. A living donor's remaining kidney will do the work of two kidneys. Since kidneys are matched genetically, donation from a family member may be more successful than from an unrelated donor.
How can I become a living donor?
While OPOs coordinate donation after the donor’s death, living donations are coordinated by transplant centers with these types of programs. To learn more, talk to a transplant center that offers a living donor program in your area.
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