Living Donor Transplantation

It is absolutely against the law to have any financial benefit from organ donation.
If you are paid, or request to be paid, for any transplant you will be prosecuted. Violators of this criminal prohibition, can be subject to $50,000 fines and/or five years of imprisonmement.

Becoming a Living Donor

There is a potential for complications for this type of surgery. Anyone interested in being an organ donor should contact their physician prior to matching.

First Steps

If you are considering being a living organ donor, it's important to educate yourself about the donation process, required testing, financial considerations, risks and recovery.

Request More Information

If you decide to pursue non-directed donation, you will need to contact transplant centers in your area to learn more about the types of living donor transplants they perform and how to proceed.
If you are thinking about being a living donor for someone you know, you should contact their transplant center for more information.

Making the decision

The decision to become a living donor involves careful consideration and is a voluntary one. To help you through the process, consider reaching out to family members, close friends, someone who has gone through this process, or a social worker or counselor.
It may also be helpful to ask yourself these questions:

• How do I feel about organ donation?
• Can I afford to be a living donor?
• What will my insurance cover?
• Do I know enough to make a logical and educated decision?
• Am I being psychologically pressured to be a living donor?
• Is there someone else who could possibly donate?
• If there is more than one possible donor, how will the living donor be chosen?
• Will donation have an impact on my relationship with the recipient?
• What are the medical risks involved?
• How does my religion view organ donation?
• Am I up to it physically? Are there current aspects of my health that I know should keep me from donating?
• Do I have a "support network" to help me through this process?
• How will I feel if I am rejected as a result of the screening process?
• Am I prepared to deal with the possible rejection of the organ?

Living Donation

Living donor transplants are a viable alternative for patients in need of new organs. Learn more now

U.S. Living Donor Transplants Performed by Year of Transplant

Source: http://www.transplantliving.org/

The chart below shows the number of living donor transplants performed by year from January 1, 1988 - May 31, 2009.