FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

While the success rates of transplant surgery have improved remarkably, growing shortages exist in the supply of organs and tissues available for transplantation. Many Americans who need transplants cannot get them because of these shortages; some of these people die while waiting for that "Gift of Life." Learning more about organ and tissue donation will help every American to make an informed decision about this important issue.

Q. Is there a need for organ/tissue donors?

A.YES! In the United States, there are over 88,000 men, women, and children in need of organ transplants. Due to the shortage of donated organs, only a small percentage of those waiting will actually receive their transplant. Some organs may be transplanted from a living-related donor, but the majority of organ and tissue transplants are dependent upon the generosity of families who donate the organs of their deceased loved ones.

Q. Does the family incur any cost for organ donation?

A. No, the donor's family never pays for organ and tissue donation, only the hospital expenses incurred attempting to save the donor's life. All costs related to actual organ donation are paid by the organ procurement organization and/or transplant center and eventually by the recipients of the organs and tissues. The final disposition of the remains of the donor's body is the responsibility of the family.

Q. What if I want to donate my body to the advancement of medical science?

A. To donate your body to medical science you would need to contact a medical school in your state.
(LIST OF MEDICAL SCHOOLS) All medical schools have different guidelines and  disqualifiers, you should inquire about these when you contact the medical school. Also, medical schools under federal law have the right to refuse a donation for any reason.

Q. What organs and tissues can be donated?

A. Organs that can be donated include kidneys, heart, liver, lungs and pancreas. Some of the tissue that can be donated include corneas, skin, bone, heart valves plus connective tissues and blood vessels.

Q. Who can be a donor?

A. Almost anyone of any age, can be considered for donation. While no age guidelines exist for organ donation, you may wish to contact your local tissue and bone banks to see what restrictions apply for these types of donation. The age limits for donating bone are between 17 and 70 years. Bone may be freeze dried or stored for up to 5 years.

Q. Will donation disfigure the body?

A. Not at all. Recovery of organs and tissue is simply a surgical procedure performed by a team of medical personnel under sterile conditions in an operating room. Each donor is treated with respect and dignity. Upon completion of the procedure, incisions are sutured closed.

Q. Can I change my mind after I sign a donor card or become part of the Registry?

A. Yes. Simply destroy the donor card and inform your family of your wishes. If you are a member of the Registry, contact us and your name may be removed.

Q. Who will receive my organs and tissues?

A. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) maintains a national waiting list for vital organs. When an organ becomes available the list is reviewed to determine who will receive the organ. Criteria include distance from the donor, blood and tissue type, current physical condition and length of time on the waiting list. Since time is very important, local recipients are considered first, then regional and then national recipients. Kidneys are the most needed organs on the waiting list. Tissue banks do not have a national waiting list and are allocated through local tissue banks.

Q. If I indicate on my driver license I want to be a donor, is that enough?

A. Most states encourage you to sign your drivers license indicating your wishes. We encourage you to register and carry a donor card in addition to your license. Sometimes the license is separated from a person in an accident. One of the most important elements of becoming an organ donor is that you discuss your wishes with your next of kin and with your family.

Q. What is required consent or required request?

A. In 1986 legislation was passed which required all hospitals to develop protocol to ask the next of kin for permission to procure the organs of the patient at the time of impending death. This is why it is so important to discuss donation with your family when you register with The Living Bank and sign a donor card so they will know your wishes.

Q. What is brain death?

A. Death occurs in two ways; cessation of cardiopulmonary function and cessation of brain function. Brain death occurs when a person has an irreversible, catastrophic brain injury which cause all brain activity to stop permanently.

Q. Is it permissible to sell organs and tissues?

A. No, the National Organ Transplant Act prohibits the sale of human organs and tissues. Violators are subject to fines and imprisonment.

Q. Can living people donate organs?

A. Under certain circumstances, a family member can give a kidney to another member of the immediate family (including mother, father, sister, brother). A living person can also donate bone marrow and certain parts of the pancreas.

Q. Will the medical or nursing care be changed because of my decision to be a donor?

A. NO. The quality of care will not change, regardless of your decision. The decision to donate is held in strictest confidence by the Registry. All patients will continue to receive the excellent care they deserve, since permission for donation is only possible in the event of death.

Q. How do organ/tissue recovery programs learn of potential donors?

A. The Living Bank or the hospital would contact an organ procurement organization near the potential donor with this information.

Q. How are patients needing organs identified to the recovery team?

A. All 50 states have patients needing an organ transplant listed on a national computer system. Once consent for donation has occurred the recovery agency places vital information on the donor into the national computer system which provides the names of individuals on the waiting list who are possible recipients for the donated organs.

Q. Can organs/tissues be transplanted between sexes and races?

A. YES. The determining factors in identifying a possible recipient are the matching of blood type and body size between the donor and the recipient. There is no matching required for tissue transplants. Note: Because of the genetic matching in kidney transplantation, it is often enhanced by matching organs between members of the same ethnic or racial groups.

Q. How long must a patient wait for a transplant?

A. The time a patient spends on the waiting list for an organ can vary from a few days to several years. The length of their wait is affected by several factors, such as the urgency of their  medical condition and the availability of donated organs. Tissue banks have a very limited supply of donated skin, bone, heart valves, tendons and corneas. All patients awaiting an organ or tissue transplant depend upon the generosity of donors and their families to give the gift of life.

Q. When must the organs/tissues be removed?

A. Donated organs will be removed as soon as possible after determination of brain death. Donated tissues must be removed within 24 hours of death.

Q. What happens when the donated organs are removed?

A. The transplant team will come to the hospital of the donor. Once the organs have been removed, they are cooled and preserved. The team will quickly return to the hospital where transplantation of that organ will take place.

Q. Will the body try to reject the new organ?

A. Yes. The recipient’s body will identify the transplanted organ as a foreign object and will attempt to destroy it. Medication is required to control this reaction.

Q. What happens if the organ is rejected?

A. Specialized medications are administered to correct the rejection. If the rejection cannot be corrected, lifesaving measures must be taken. Attempts will be made to locate another organ for re-transplantation. Due to the shortage of donated organs, some recipients die before another organ becomes available.

Q. Will the identity of the recipients be revealed to the donor family?

A. The identity of both the donor and the recipient usually remain confidential.

Q. How do I become an organ and tissue donor?

A. The most important step in becoming a donor is to discuss your wishes with your immediate family members. They will be asked at the time of your death to give permission for your donation. After discussing your wishes with your family, fill out a donor form and register with The Living Bank.

Major Religious Organizations Views on Organ Donation