Organ And Tissue Donation: FAQ

Am I too young or too old to be a donor?
Today, there is no firm age limit for donation. Newborns and older will be considered for organ and tissue donation. There have been 90-year-old donors in the United States. In all cases, medical suitability is determined at the time of death. Never rule yourself out. Even if you've had a history of illness, you may still be a donor.

Which organs and tissue can I donate?
Organs: heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine. Tissue: bone, connective tissue (ligaments and tendons), corneas (eyes), heart valves, skin and veins/vessels. To learn more, visit our Donorman.

Your age and medical condition at the time of death may affect what you can donate. Typically, if death occurs as the result of severe head trauma, stoke or tumor that causes brain death, there is a good chance any organ or tissue may be donated. However, if death occurs due to cardiac arrest (when heart and breathing stop first), donation may be limited to tissue and eyes.

Do transplants really work? What difference can a donor make?
Advances in medical technology and the development of anti-rejection medications mean survival rates for recipients continue to improve. Depending on the type of organ, the one-year survival rate percentage may be from 75 percent to more than 95 percent. If one person donated all possible organs and tissue, it could help 50 or more people in need of a life-saving or life-enhancing transplant.

Are there any religious objections to donation?
All major religions in the United States support organ, eye and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others.

LifeBanc is dedicated to helping the general public and religious leaders make informed decisions about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation. You may wish to visit our religious views for a statement from your denomination or consult your own faith advisor if you have specific questions.

If I have a donor card or a designation on my driver license, why should I discuss organ and tissue donation with my family?
In December 2000, then Ohio Governor Bob Taft signed a bill to create a statewide donor registry beginning in summer 2002, which means you can sign up to be a donor at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or on line (Ohio Donor Registry). The bill makes your donor designation legally binding in Ohio.

LifeBanc will continue to involve the family before donation takes place. Make sure your loved ones know about your decision to donate life. Many donor families have reported that, for them, donation has given some meaning to their loss.

If the hospital knows I want to be a donor, will the doctors still try to save my life?
Despite what you have seen on some TV dramas or motion pictures, emergency room doctors and transplant surgeons are totally separate medical teams. Organ and tissue donation takes place only after all efforts to save your life have failed, you've been declared legally dead and your family has been consulted.

What does organ and tissue donation cost my family?
Donation costs nothing to the donor's family or estate. After a patient has been declared dead, and if donation is to take place, LifeBanc or the organ procurement organization of the region is responsible for all costs related to the donation process. Medical treatment prior to the declaration of death, funeral costs, memorial services or burial plans remain the family's responsibility.

Will donation affect funeral arrangements?
The removal of organs and tissue is a respectful procedure performed by highly trained medical professionals. In most cases, traditional funeral practices-including open-casket viewing-may follow if the family desires.

Can celebrities or wealthy people use their money and influence to buy an organ or be placed at the top of the waiting list?
Donor organs are matched to potential recipients through a national computerized waiting list operated by UNOS tissue type, size, medical urgency, time on waiting list and geographic location. Race, age, religion, income and celebrity status are not even considerations when determining who receives an organ.

Also, it is a federal crime to buy or sell organs in the United States.

Will my family know the identity of the organ recipient(s)?
The identities of the donor and the recipient(s) remain confidential. The donor family receives a letter that confirms the transplant(s) and includes some information about each recipient. Recipients and donor families may communicate with each other through bereavement services.