Organ Donation Info

Organ and tissue donation is the process of taking healthy organs and/or tissues from a donor (either living or deceased) and transplanting the organs and/or tissues into another person.

Organs that can be donated: Kidneys Heart Liver Lungs Intestines Pancreas

Tissues that can be donated: Eyes Heart valves Bones Skin Veins Tendons

One organ donor can save the lives of up to 8 people.
One tissue donor can save/enhance the lives of as many as 50 people.

Every year, more than 8,000 Americans die while they are waiting for an organ transplant. Just in California, more than 22,000 residents are currently waiting for donated organs.

There are 2 different ways to donate organs and tissues.

Living:
While you are still alive, you can choose to donate a kidney, a small section of your liver, discarded bone from a hip or knee replacement and also your amniotic membrane (placenta).

Non-living:
Brain Stem Death – This is where a person no longer has activity in their brain stem due to a severe brain injury. They have permanently lost the potential for consciousness and the capacity to breathe. This may happen even when a ventilator is keeping the person’s heart beating and oxygen is being circulated through their blood.

Circulatory Death – This is the irreversible loss of function of the heart and lungs after a cardiac arrest from which the patient cannot be revived. It can also be the planned withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from a patient within the Intensive Care Unit or the Emergency Department.

Reference Link: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/about-donation/what-is-organ-donation/

Organs can ONLY be given with the voluntary consent of the donor or their family. To give your consent, join California’s organ donor registry or tell a loved one/family member about your voluntary decision to donate your organs.