the organ donor program

The Organ and TissueDonor Program

If I needed a kidney or some othervital organ to live…Would I be ableto get one?

Maybe. Many people who need organ transplantscannot get them because of a shortage of dona-tions. The national waiting list for organ transplantsgrows longer every day. Thousands die each yearwhile waiting for a transplant of a vital organ, suchas a kidney, heart or liver.

Aren't organ and tissue transplantsexperimental?

No. Medical advances now make it possible toreplace many organs and tissues. Thousands ofsuccessful organ and tissue transplants takeplace each year. Kidney and corneal transplantsare the most common, but new drugs andimproved techniques are increasing the numbers ofheart, liver, pancreas, lung, small intestine, bonemarrow and other types of transplants. Organ andtissue donation is truly a gift of life—it can be yourgift of life.

How are organs and tissues fortransplantation obtained?

Organs can be donated by individuals at thetime of death (deceased donors) or by livingdonors. Tissues are from deceased donors.

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Living donation is most common in the case ofkidney or bone marrow transplantation. Livingdonations are also possible for liver, pancreasand lung transplants. A living donor may be arelative, friend or possibly someone who doesnot know the recipient but wishes to be adonor for someone in need. This brochure pro-vides information about organ and tissue dona-tion at the time of death. For more informationabout living donation, see Answering YourQuestions About Living Donation, availablefrom the National Kidney Foundation, or by visiting www.livingdonors.org.

How are donated organs distributed?

The federal government contracts with an inde-pendent organization, called the UnitedNetwork for Organ Sharing (UNOS), to man-age the distribution of organs donated by indi-viduals at the time of death (deceased donors).Because of the shortage of donations, trans-plant candidates' names are placed on a wait-ing list. Guidelines have been established toensure that all patients on the waiting list havea fair chance at receiving the organ they needregardless of age, sex, race, lifestyle or socialstatus. Organs are also distributed based onneeds and medical criteria. To help coordinatethe process of matching and distributing organs,the national computer registry at UNOS is linkedto regional organ banks around the country.

Donated tissues are distributed through a sepa-rate process, which is coordinated by varioustissue banks.

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How are donated organsremoved?Donated organs are removed in a sterile, surgi-cal procedure. In the case of a deceaseddonor, the outward appearance of the bodyusually will not prevent an open-casket funeral.However, it is important to discuss the impactof donating specific organs and tissues on theviewing with the recovery professional, whocan work with the funeral director to addressyour concerns.

Who can become an organ andtissue donor?

If you are 18 years of age or older, you maybecome a donor by signing a Donor Card orthe organ donor declaration on your driver'slicense. If you are under 18, you may becomea donor if your parent or legal guardian givesconsent. There is no upper age limit on donation—even people in their 80s may be acceptable donors.


What organs and tissues can be donated?

One donor can benefit many other people.Organs and tissues that can be transplantedinclude: the kidneys, corneas, heart, lungs,liver, pancreas, heart valves, bone, bone mar-row, small bowel, veins, skin, tendons and lig-aments. You may specify what organs and/ortissues you wish to donate on your DonorCard, driver's license or state donor registry.

Will the quality of treatment bealtered if a person has signed adonor card or is a declared organdonor?

Absolutely not. Organ donation is not even con-sidered until all possible efforts to save a person'slife have failed. The criteria used to determinedeath are based on strict medical and legal stan-dards. The determination of death must be madeby doctors who are not involved in the organdonation or transplant process. Potential organdonors are declared dead and then maintainedon ventilators to keep all vital organs healthy untilthe donation can take place.

Is there a system for giving fami-lies the option of donating theorgans and tissues of a loved onewho has died?

Yes. All hospitals are required by law to havea “Required Referral” system in place. Underthis system, the hospital must notify the localOrgan Procurement Organization (OPO)about all patients who die. If the OPO deter-mines that organ and/or tissue donation is


appropriate in a particular case, they mayhave a representative contact the family to dis-cuss donation. In many states, the next of kinare asked to sign a consent form for donation.This is so even if the patient had indicated adesire to be a donor, had signed a DonorCard or the organ donor declaration on his orher driver's license or had signed up at a statedonor registry. Individuals who have made adonation decision should inform family mem-bers as they would about advance directivesor other end-of-life decisions. In some states, ifthe individual has signed a Donor Card orother legal document certifying that donationis his or her choice, family permission is not requested.

Will my family be required tomake any payments for theremoval of my organs or tissues?

No. The donor's family and the donor hospitalare not responsible for any recovery expenses.The cost will be absorbed by the transplantcenter, the recipient's insurance coverage or, insome cases, by the federal government.


Do religious groups supportorgan and tissue donation?

Yes. Religious leaders the world over favorsuch donations as expressions of the highesthumanitarian ideals. This gift of life is consis-tent with the principles of most religiousand ethical beliefs. If you have questionsabout your religion's position concerning organ and tissue donation, consult your reli-gious leader.

What happens when someonedonates his or her body to med-ical science?

If someone donates his or her body to a med-ical center for anatomical study, arrangementsfor this type of donation must be made inadvance of memorial services with the medicalcenter. Burial arrangements and expenses maybe taken care of by the medical center afterthe anatomical study has been completed.

How can I become a donor?

Here's all you have to do:

� Simply sign the Donor Card on theback of this brochure. Under state law itis a legal document through which youcan express your wishes about donat-ing organs and tissues.

� Discuss your decision with your familymembers or other loved ones.

� Carry the card with you at all times.� It's that easy!


You will note that your Donor Card offers sev-eral options. It allows you to donate:

� Any organs or parts� Specific organs and tissues� Your entire body for anatomical study.

Do I have to register with anagency?

Many states have donor registries which are simi-lar to signing a Donor Card or indicating yourdonation wishes on a driver's license. For moreinformation about registries in your state, visitwww.shareyourlife.org and click on your state.

Do I have to mention organ andtissue donation in my will?

No. Donated organs and tissues must beremoved soon after death has occurred and thiswill be long before your will is read.


Can I still be an organ and tissuedonor if I have a living will?

Yes. You may want to speak to your attorneyabout having a special provision in your livingwill indicating that ventilators may be used to theextent needed to preserve your organs until thedonation can be made. You should also makesure your family and your doctor know that youwant to have every measure taken in order topermit your organs to be used for donation.

Can I be sure that my gift will be used?

Every effort is made to use donated organs andtissues. Tissues such as bone, heart valves andskin can be preserved for a long time. Donatedtissue can help tissue recipients many months oryears after the donation itself.

What does the future hold?

As medical scientists continue to identify bettertechniques for matching and preserving organsand tissues and for preventing rejection, alltypes of transplants will become more andmore successful. The demand for donors willkeep increasing. For this reason, it is importantfor all Americans to consider organ and tissuedonation and discuss this with their families.

Scientists are also studying the possibility of usingorgans and tissues from animals such as pigs forcertain transplants. This is called xenotransplanta-tion, and if it proves successful, it may help toease the shortages of organs and tissues avail-able for transplants in the future.


What else can I do to advancethis life-sustaining and life-enhancing program?

Be sure to tell others about the organ andtissue donor program. The more donors whobecome available, the more frequently trans-plantation can be used for the benefit of others.To learn more about organ and tissue donationcontact your National Kidney Foundation affili-ate. They will be pleased to provide you withmore information and additional Donor Cards.

Remember…

� Discuss your feelings about organ and tissue donation with your family and friends.Decide whether or not you wish to be adonor and then tell your family members andother loved ones of your decision. TheUniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA) givesyou the legal right to sign a Donor Cardspecifying your wishes to donate variousorgans and tissues upon your death.

� If you decide to be a donor, complete andsign the Donor Card provided in thisbrochure. Have it witnessed by your familymembers or friends. If you are under 18years of age, you must have the consent ofa parent or legal guardian.

� To determine if your state has a donor reg-istry, visit www.shareyourlife.org and clickon your state.


� Tell others about your decision, especiallyyour family members and your physician.

� Carry your Donor Card with you at all times.

� Pass along this brochure to your friends.

Organ donation…the gift of life.

More than 20 million Americans—one in nine adults—have chronic kidneydisease, and most don’t even know it. More than 20 million others are atincreased risk. The National Kidney Foundation, a major voluntary healthorganization, seeks to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improvethe health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these dis-eases and increase the availability of all organs for transplantation.Through its 47 affiliates nationwide, the foundation conducts programs inresearch, professional education, patient and community services, publiceducation and organ donation. The work of the National KidneyFoundation is funded by public donations.

NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATIONPlease keep this card in a safe place and inform your family

of your wishes to be a donor.

This is to inform you that, should the occasion ever arise, Iwould like to be an organ and tissue donor. Please see thatmy wishes are carried out by informing the attending med-ical personnel that I have indicated my wishes to become adonor.Thank you.

__________________________________________________SIGNATURE DATE

For further information, contact:NATIONAL KIDNEY FOUNDATION

800.622.9010 • www.kidney.org

Of ______________________________________________________(print or type name of donor)

In the hope that I may help others, I hereby make this anatom-ical gift, if medically acceptable, to take effect upon my death.The words and marks below indicate my wishes.I give: ■■ any needed organs or tissues

■■ only the following organs or tissues__________________________________________________

(specify the organ(s), tissue(s))

for the purposes of transplantation, therapy, medical researchor education;

■■ my body for anatomical study if needed.Limitations or special wishes, if any: _________________________

ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR CARD

© 1990, 2002 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2006 Edition.

13-10-0604

National Kidney Foundation30 East 33rd StreetNew York, NY 10016800.622.9010

www.kidney.org

Signed by the donor and the following two witnesses in the presenceof each other:

___________________________________ ___________________ Signature of DonorDate of Birth of Donor

______________________________ ______________________________Date SignedCity and State

______________________________ ______________________________WitnessWitness

This is a legal document under the Anatomical Gift Act or similar laws.

■■Yes, I have discussed my wishes with my family.For further information consult your physician or

Here’s all you have to do…1. Designate your wishes by filling out the card, and

sign it in front of two witnesses.

2. Discuss your wishes with your family and give themthe top half of the card.

3. Carry the bottom half of the card in your wallet.

4. Tell someone else about organ and tissue donation.

DONATE LIFE

THIS IS YOUR

DONOR CARDfrom the

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the organ donor program

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