what is organ donation essay

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The Power of Organ Donation to Save Lives Through Transplantation

Organ and tissue donation is more important than many of us realize—for society and for the individuals it directly affects. Today, there are nearly 118,000 individuals waiting for an organ transplant to live healthier, more productive lives (Unpublished data, Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network [OPTN], April 2013). For some people with end-stage organ failure, it is truly a matter of life and death. Add to these the thousands more whose lives will be improved through tissue and cornea donation and transplants that can help them move better, see better, and live better.

Donation affects more than the donors and recipients. It also affects the families, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances who love and support those in need of transplantation, and who benefit from their renewed life and improved health after transplant. For my part, I have experienced not once, but twice how donation and transplantation affects individuals.

Twenty years ago, my wife, Donna Lee Jones, died in a severe automobile accident. Her death was a shock, and my family did not know what to make of our tragedy. Then we were offered the opportunity to donate her organs and tissues for transplantation. While it did not lessen the pain of her loss, it brought comfort to us knowing that out of our tragedy, some good would come, and others could receive the gift of life. Because of her donation, several people received a new lease on life: a man in Tampa, Florida, received her heart; a teenage boy in Washington, D.C., received a kidney and pancreas; a hospital custodian received her other kidney; a woman in Pennsylvania received her liver; and her corneas went to a young woman in Baltimore, Maryland, and a government worker.

Four years later, my 20-year-old daughter, Vikki Lianne, was struck by a car and died. Losing a spouse was tragic enough, but the pain of losing a child cannot be expressed. Falling back on our previous experience, we decided to donate Vikki's organs and tissues for transplantation. Again, several individuals benefited from her gift: a mother of five children from Upstate New York received her heart; a widow with four children received her lung; a 59-year-old man from Washington, D.C., who was active with a local charity, received her liver; a widower with one daughter received her kidney; a working father received the other kidney; and her corneas went to a 26-year-old man in Florida and a 60-year-old woman in Pennsylvania. And we, her family, took comfort in the idea that Vikki's legacy was one of life and giving.

Organ donation provides a life-giving, life-enhancing opportunity to those who are at the end of the line for hope. And the need for organ donors is growing. When Donna Lee died in 1992, there were 27,000 people on the transplant wait list. When Vikki died just four years later, that number had grown to 47,000 (Unpublished data, OPTN, January 2010). As of April 5, 2013, there were 117,812 people waiting, with hope, for an organ to become available (Unpublished data, OPTN, April 2013).

One way to expand the number of organs available for transplantation is to expand the number of donors, through carefully and safely considering individuals who in the past were not included. The guideline in this special issue of Public Health Reports provides a scientific, evidence-based process to assure a balance between organ safety and availability for each individual on the transplant wait list. As our knowledge and scientific capabilities regarding safety and availability grow and evolve, donors who in the past would not have been considered as donors are now able to provide the gift of life to others.

This guideline will help improve organ transplant outcomes, leading to more individuals being able to live healthier and longer lives. The science and evidence are clear and will improve the safety of organs, balanced with a clear and conscious regard for donors and recipients. It is the human aspect of donation and transplantation—helping people. It is the right thing to do.

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Kenneth Moritsugu is a former Acting Surgeon General of the United States.

This article was supported in part by Health Resources and Services Administration contract #234-2005-370011C. The content of this article is the responsibility of the author alone and does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services.

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Organ demand

Organ procurement, legal, medical, and social issues.

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organ donation , the act of giving one or more organs (or parts thereof), without compensation, for transplantation into someone else. Organ donation is a very personal yet complex decision, intertwined with medical, legal, religious, cultural, and ethical issues. Today organ donation, strictly defined, encompasses the donation and transplantation of the heart , intestines , kidneys , liver , lungs , and pancreas (e.g., the islets of Langerhans ).

Donated organs come either from a deceased donor or from a still-living donor. Living donors are capable of donating a kidney, part of the intestine, part of the liver, part of a lung, or part of the pancreas. Deceased donors are classified according to (1) donation after brain death or (2) donation after cardiac death . Brain death is defined as the total cessation of brain function; it is impossible to return to life after brain death. Cardiac death occurs after irreversible cessation of cardiac function.

People of all ages can consider themselves potential organ donors. The few absolute medical contraindications to donation include HIV -positive status, active cancer , and systemic infection. Other conditions that may render a person ineligible to donate organs include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease , sickle cell anemia , or a history of intravenous drug abuse . Potential donors are evaluated for suitability on the basis of their medical history.

In 1988 the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), a national computerized system, was implemented to track organ donation in the United States . In its first two decades of operation, the OPTN recorded the procurement of organs from some 125,000 deceased and 100,000 living donors. During that period of time, organ donation increased dramatically in the West. For example, in 1988 in the United States about 9,500 kidneys were recovered from donors, but in 2008 alone more than 20,200 kidneys were recovered. Likewise, in 1988 approximately 580 pancreases were recovered, but in 2008 some 1,830 were recovered. For some organs, however, the increase in donation has been relatively small; for example, nearly 1,800 hearts were recovered in 1988, and about 2,200 were recovered in 2008. Thus, the demand for transplants continues to far exceed the supply of organs.

Great efforts have been made in the Western world over the past decades to increase the number of deceased donors, but the rate varies greatly (e.g., in 2009 there were approximately 34 donors per million persons in Spain and 6 donors per million persons in Greece). As a result of the growing need for organs for transplantation, living donation has increased. Most living donations are to family members or close friends, but some “altruistic” or “nondirected” donors do not know the recipients. Potential living donors must undergo a thorough physical and psychological workup in order to help ensure that no adverse outcome will occur before, during, or after donation.

In the United States, local organ-procurement organizations (OPOs) coordinate deceased donation. OPOs evaluate potential donors, discuss donation with surviving relatives, and arrange for the surgical removal and transport of donated organs. Organs in good condition are removed in a sterile surgical procedure; all incisions are closed, so the donor can still have an open-casket funeral. After organ removal, the donor is taken off artificial life support. The organs to be donated are flushed with, and stored in, chilled preservation solutions (4 °C [39.2 °F]). Preserving organ function is key, and long-term storage is not possible; the organs must be transplanted within 6 to 72 hours after removal, depending on the organ (the heart and lungs may be viable for only 4 to 5 hours). In the United States the OPTN is used to match donated organs with prospective recipients.

Legislative approaches to deceased donation differ, but they most commonly involve some form of consent (either presumed or explicit) or dissent. Under U.S. law, deceased donation remains a consent system. Surviving relatives generally retain the right to dissent even if the potential donor gave explicit consent via a driver’s license, living will , or similar document. In some states, however, those laws are changing, with movement toward preventing a relative from overriding an individual’s decision to donate his organs if the desire to donate has been specified in a legal document. In the United Kingdom, deceased donation is voluntary, and no consent is presumed. In addition, legal documentation of a person’s decision to donate cannot be overturned by the family in the United Kingdom. Organ donation laws are evolving in places such as India and China, which have religious and cultural systems that differ substantially from those common to countries in the West.

The benefits and risks for both the living donor and the recipient must be weighed carefully. A healthy donor always faces an unnecessary major surgical procedure and even the possibility of death. The chance of dying as a result of donating a kidney is about 1 in 8,000–10,000; of donating a small portion of the liver , about 1 in 1,000; and of donating a large portion of the liver, as high as 1 in 100–500. In addition, living donors may be unable to maintain life or medical insurance or disability coverage at the same level or rate that they had prior to donation. Financial concerns may be exacerbated by a possible delay in returning to work because of unforeseen problems. Some countries have established programs to reimburse qualified living donors for travel and other expenses. Follow-up registries for living donors, which track quality of life and other factors after donation, exist in only a few countries.

Illegal organ trade and trafficking have resulted in physical and financial exploitation of some living donors and may have contributed to an occasional loss of faith in the medical system. Yet despite the challenges, organ transplants offer recipients a new chance at healthy, productive, and normal lives and return them to their families, friends, and communities .

Whether the donor is deceased or living, organ donation remains a profoundly generous and life-affirming option. Many families of deceased donors acknowledge that the “gift of life” made possible by organ donation helps them cope with their tragic loss. Likewise, most religions (including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Hinduism) support organ donation as a charitable act of love and giving.

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Essay on Organ Donation | Organ Donation Essay for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on organ donation : Organ donation is an extremely noble and honorable act that benefits society in many ways. It involves removing organs or tissues from a usually dead body and transplanting it to a different body.

Organ donation can be either done by a dead person, provided his family members give consent. It can also be done when a person signs a form for donating his organs once he dies. In this article, we have provided an expanded essay and a brief essay along with ten lines on the topic, to help children write these essays in their examinations.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Organ Donation for Students and Kids

Given below is one Long essay on Organ Donation of 500 words and one precise essay of around 100-150 words on organ donation, in English.

Long Essay on Organ Donation in English 500 words

Organ Donation essay is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Organ donation is defined as the removal of organs from a body and transplanting it to a new body, by surgical means. Organ donation happens in a lot of ways. Unless it is consensual, it is not legal.

The requirement for new organs usually arises when a person loses an organ to some accident or stops functioning. For example, patients with acute liver cirrhosis may require a liver transplant. A liver transplant is usually done by removing a small part of the liver from a healthy person’s body and transplanting it.

Likewise, organs like the retina of the eye, and kidneys can be donated. These organs remain functional for a few hours after removing them from the patient’s body. In the case of a heart transplant, it must be done immediately after removing it from the dead person’s body. However, a heart transplant can be done only when the donor is declared brain dead by doctors.

Organ transplant dramatically depends on the availability of human organs. Organ transplantation is the only way of saving the lives of patients who have had terminal organ failure. Patients with two dysfunctional kidneys cannot live, so kidney transplant is necessary to keep them.

Due to the vast disparity between the availability of and demand for organs, few patients are lucky enough to get organ transplantation, at the right time. Organ donation follows a very detailed procedure.

Firstly, a person can sign up and register for donating his organs. In this case, a person voluntarily consents to donate his organs after his death. After he passes away, the doctors remove the eyes and other organs that can be preserved from his body and stores them. These donated organs are used to help patients in need of organ transplantation.

Secondly, if a person is declared brain dead by doctors, his family members can officially consent to donate his organs. Such cases usually happen when a patient is desperately in need of an organ, and delay can be fatal.

Professionals must do organ transplants because it is a surgical procedure. An organ transplant is also a touchy topic and must be done intricately. There are different kinds of organ donations. Autograft refers the transplantation of tissues from one site to another site. The skin of legs is often removed to end a damaged area of another part of the body.

Isograft refers to the transplantation of organs between genetically identical individuals. This is a safer process because it runs no risk of the immune response, which leads to rejection.

While transplanting as an organ, it is essential to know whether the organ matches the patient’s blood group and body. On several occasions, it has been seen that organ transplant has failed because the patient’s body has been unable to accept the organ from the donor. Organ transplantation is a delicate issue but can save the lives of many people. It is an extremely excellent way of serving society. Our deeds live on after we die, and this is a way to ensure that people will remember us for our contributions.

Short Essay on Organ Donation in English 150 words

Organ Donation essay is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Like all other surgeries, organ transplant also involves numerous risks. It is indeed an excellent way of curing terminal diseases, but it comes with a price. To start with, the donor’s organ may not match that of the recipient, thus causing complete failure. The blood group and their blood factors must match to have a successful transplant.

Despite a successful operation, post-surgical complications may develop, causing various immunity-related disorders. This mainly happens when the tissues do not match and cases infection. The body treats the transplanted organ as a foreign substance and creates antibodies to fight against it. Thus, the process involves a lot of risk factors.

10 Lines on Essay on Organ Donation in English

• Organ donation is an extremely advanced and exceptional way of curing fatal diseases.
• It happens by removing a part of an organ from the donor’s body and transplanting it to the recipient’s body.
• Among the various risks involved in organ transplantation, the immune response is the most dangerous one.
• If the organ of the donor does not match with that of the recipient, the recipient’s body will start creating antibodies to counter the organ, which the body will view as an alien object.
• This gives rise to immunity-related disorders and can even result in death.
• Even after death, some organs of the body can be preserved and stored. If these organs are donated, it might save somebody else’s life.
• The rates of organ donation have significantly increased due to the number of successful cases.
• However, organ smuggling is a serious crime and is dangerous for society.
• Sometimes, the organs removed for donation may be smuggled by unscrupulous people who do heinous crimes for money.
• We must understand the necessity behind organ donation and support it.

Frequently Asked Questions on Essay on Organ Donation

Question 1. What is organ smuggling?

Answer: Criminals often smuggle organs for monetary purposes. This is illegal and has grave consequences.

Question 2. What is a liver transplant?

Answer: Liver transplant includes removing an area of the donor’s liver, deceased or Live, and transplanting it to the body of the recipient.

Question 3. Can kidneys be donated?

Answer: Yes, kidneys can be donated. People can function with one kidney. For patients whose both the kidneys have become dysfunctional, kidney transplant becomes unavoidable.

Question 4. Can the donor run any risk in case of organ donation?

Answer: Usually, in the case of live donors, they are not severely affected, but at times, their lifespan can become shorter due to the removal of a part of the organ.

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Essay on Organ Donation

Students are often asked to write an essay on Organ Donation in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Organ Donation

What is organ donation.

Organ donation is when a person allows their organs to be given to someone who needs them after they die. The organs can be the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, or intestines. Giving an organ can save the life of someone with a sick organ that doesn’t work well.

Who Can Donate?

Almost anyone can be an organ donor. Adults and, with parent’s permission, children can choose to donate. Doctors check if the donor’s organs are healthy enough to be given to another person.

The Process of Donating

When a person dies, doctors see if they can donate. If yes, the organs are taken out carefully and quickly given to patients who need them. The donor’s family does not have to pay for this.

The Need for Donors

Many people are waiting for an organ, but there aren’t enough donors. More donors mean more people can get the help they need. It’s important to talk with your family about your choice to donate.

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Organ Donation

Organ donation is when a person allows their organs to be given to someone else who needs them after they die. Sometimes, living people can also give one of their kidneys or a part of their liver to help another person.

Why is Organ Donation Important?

Organ donation is very important because it can save lives. Many people are sick with organs that do not work well, and they need new ones to become healthy again. Without new organs, these people might not live for very long.

Almost anyone can be an organ donor. It does not matter how old you are or what your background is. The most important thing is that the organs are healthy. Doctors check this very carefully before they put the organs into another person’s body.

How to Become a Donor

To become an organ donor, you can sign up on a special list or tell your family about your wish to donate. This way, if something happens to you, the doctors will know that you want to give your organs to help others.

Respect and Care

In summary, organ donation is a generous act that can give someone a second chance at life. It is a simple process to sign up, and it shows a big heart to help others in need.

500 Words Essay on Organ Donation

Organ donation is a kind act where a person allows their organs to be moved into another person’s body. When someone’s organ, like their heart or kidney, stops working well, they might need a new one. Organ donation is a way to give them a healthy organ. This can save their lives or help them feel better.

Organ donation is very important because it can save lives. Many people are waiting for an organ, and sometimes they have to wait a long time. Without a new organ, these people might not survive. By donating organs, you can help them live longer and enjoy life with their families and friends.

How Do You Become a Donor?

To become an organ donor, you need to tell others that you want to donate. You can do this by signing up on a special list or telling your family about your choice. It’s also a good idea to carry a card in your wallet that says you are a donor. This way, if something happens to you, doctors will know that you want to give your organs to help others.

The Process of Donation

Concerns and myths.

Some people are worried about donating their organs. They might think that doctors won’t try to save their lives if they are donors, but this isn’t true. Doctors always work hard to save every person’s life. Another worry is about how the body will look after donation. The truth is, doctors are very careful, and the body will look the same as before.

Organ donation is a very special choice that can make a big difference in someone’s life. It’s a way to show kindness and help others even after you’re gone. By learning about organ donation and talking to your family, you can decide if it’s right for you. Remember, your choice to donate your organs could be the reason someone else gets to live a longer and happier life.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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117 Organ Donation Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Organ donation is a crucial and life-saving practice that can have a profound impact on the lives of individuals in need of organ transplants. However, many people are still hesitant to become organ donors due to various reasons such as lack of awareness, misconceptions, or personal beliefs. To address this issue and encourage more people to consider becoming organ donors, it is important to raise awareness about the benefits of organ donation and dispel any myths or misconceptions surrounding the topic.

To help facilitate discussions and promote awareness about organ donation, here are 117 organ donation essay topic ideas and examples that can serve as inspiration for students, writers, and advocates:

• The importance of organ donation in saving lives
• The process of organ donation and transplantation
• Myths and misconceptions about organ donation
• Religious perspectives on organ donation
• Ethical considerations in organ donation
• The impact of organ donation on the healthcare system
• Organ donation policies and regulations
• Organ donation in minority communities
• Organ donation in the LGBTQ+ community
• Organ donation and social justice
• Organ donation and mental health
• Organ donation and organ trafficking
• Organ donation and the black market
• Organ donation and medical tourism
• Organ donation and the role of media
• Organ donation and public education campaigns
• Organ donation and celebrity endorsements
• Organ donation and the role of healthcare providers
• Organ donation and cultural beliefs
• Organ donation and family dynamics
• Organ donation and the grieving process
• Organ donation and the donor registry
• Organ donation and organ allocation
• Organ donation and organ matching
• Organ donation and organ rejection
• Organ donation and organ preservation
• Organ donation and organ procurement
• Organ donation and organ storage
• Organ donation and organ transplantation success rates
• Organ donation and organ waitlists
• Organ donation and organ shortage
• Organ donation and organ trafficking laws
• Organ donation and organ trafficking prevention
• Organ donation and organ trafficking statistics
• Organ donation and organ trafficking victims
• Organ donation and organ trafficking organizations
• Organ donation and organ trafficking awareness campaigns
• Organ donation and organ trafficking survivor stories
• Organ donation and organ trafficking documentaries
• Organ donation and organ trafficking movies
• Organ donation and organ trafficking books
• Organ donation and organ trafficking research
• Organ donation and organ trafficking advocacy
• Organ donation and organ trafficking support groups
• Organ donation and organ trafficking fundraising
• Organ donation and organ trafficking volunteer opportunities
• Organ donation and organ trafficking partnerships
• Organ donation and organ trafficking collaborations
• Organ donation and organ trafficking initiatives
• Organ donation and organ trafficking events
• Organ donation and organ trafficking conferences
• Organ donation and organ trafficking workshops
• Organ donation and organ trafficking seminars
• Organ donation and organ trafficking webinars
• Organ donation and organ trafficking symposiums
• Organ donation and organ trafficking forums
• Organ donation and organ trafficking roundtables
• Organ donation and organ trafficking panels
• Organ donation and organ trafficking discussions
• Organ donation and organ trafficking debates
• Organ donation and organ trafficking dialogues
• Organ donation and organ trafficking interviews
• Organ donation and organ trafficking Q&A sessions
• Organ donation and organ trafficking surveys
• Organ donation and organ trafficking polls
• Organ donation and organ trafficking feedback
• Organ donation and organ trafficking testimonials
• Organ donation and organ trafficking success stories
• Organ donation and organ trafficking challenges
• Organ donation and organ trafficking obstacles
• Organ donation and organ trafficking setbacks
• Organ donation and organ trafficking failures
• Organ donation and organ trafficking lessons learned
• Organ donation and organ trafficking best practices
• Organ donation and organ trafficking tips
• Organ donation and organ trafficking strategies
• Organ donation and organ trafficking tactics
• Organ donation and organ trafficking tools
• Organ donation and organ trafficking resources
• Organ donation and organ trafficking guidelines
• Organ donation and organ trafficking policies
• Organ donation and organ trafficking procedures
• Organ donation and organ trafficking protocols
• Organ donation and organ trafficking standards
• Organ donation and organ trafficking regulations
• Organ donation and organ trafficking compliance
• Organ donation and organ trafficking enforcement
• Organ donation and organ trafficking monitoring
• Organ donation and organ trafficking evaluation
• Organ donation and organ trafficking assessment
• Organ donation and organ trafficking measurement
• Organ donation and organ trafficking analysis
• Organ donation and organ trafficking reporting
• Organ donation and organ trafficking tracking
• Organ donation and organ trafficking documentation
• Organ donation and organ trafficking records
• Organ donation and organ trafficking data
• Organ donation and organ trafficking trends
• Organ donation and organ trafficking forecasts
• Organ donation and organ trafficking projections
• Organ donation and organ trafficking models
• Organ donation and organ trafficking simulations
• Organ donation and organ trafficking experiments
• Organ donation and organ trafficking tests
• Organ donation and organ trafficking trials
• Organ donation and organ trafficking studies
• Organ donation and organ trafficking investigations
• Organ donation and organ trafficking inquiries
• Organ donation and organ trafficking assessments
• Organ donation and organ trafficking evaluations
• Organ donation and organ trafficking analyses
• Organ donation and organ trafficking reports
• Organ donation and organ trafficking recommendations

By exploring these organ donation essay topic ideas and examples, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of the importance of organ donation and the impact it can have on the lives of those in need. Through education, advocacy, and awareness, we can work together to promote organ donation and save lives.

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Organ Donation - Free Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

Organ Donation is the process of surgically removing an organ or tissue from one person (the organ donor) and placing it into another person (the recipient). Essays could explore the ethical, social, and medical aspects of organ donation, including the processes of organ transplantation, the importance of donor registries, and the debates surrounding consent and allocation policies. A substantial compilation of free essay instances related to Organ Donation you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Mandatory Organ Donation: Ethical or Unethical

The American Transplant Foundation reports that every 12 minutes, there is an additional member who joins 123,000 national organ transplant donors. Even though many people are aware of the advantages that come with organ donation, they may not comprehend all the benefits that come with organ donation, especially to the donor (Santivasi, Strand, Mueller & Beckman, 2017). The subject of organ donation is important because it improves the quality of life for the recipient of the organ transplant. For instance, […]

Should Organ Donation be Mandatory?

Organ donation is the gift of life. By donating organs you are literally saving thousands of adults and children. The number of patients whose organs are failing on a continuous bases. consequently , the more people who are on the list the less likely they are to get an organ which sadly results in their untimely death. But why would you want to see another human being die? Here in the united states, there is a shortage of organs. According […]

Should Organ Donors be Paid for Donations

There seems to be a great debate in this country about whether or not donors should be paid for organ donations. I honestly did not know that this debate was going on before I started doing research on this subject. It seems crazy to think that the state legislator should get involved in the question whether people should be paid for organ donations. I have read a few articles about"the gift of life" and it all sounds ridiculous to me. […]

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The Benefit of Organ Donation

If there is one thing that everyone in the world can agree on it is the fact that eventually we are all going to die. Death is going to happen to each and every one of us, and the thought of dying is usually very tragic to most people. It is not knowing what is going to happen that can cause the fear of dying in a person or a family. Diseases and tragic accidents are usually the cause for […]

Understanding of Organ Donation

Do we ever think about those patients who lay on bed 24 hours days a week in search of Organ ? There are many simpler ways in which patients can be cured, but it gets very difficult when only one way left which is by donating organ. In simpler words, Organ Donation is the removal process of Organ or tissue from one person through surgical process to be transplanted to another person for the purpose of replacing an Organ injured […]

3D Printing and Bioprinting Revolutionizing Healthcare

3D bioprinting is one of the most anticipating and promising technological advancements of all time. According to the US National Library of Medicine, 3D bioprinting is "a manufacturing method in which objects are made by fusing or depositing materials? such as plastic, metal, ceramics, powders, liquids, or even living cells? in layers to produce a 3D object" (Ventola, 2014, para 2). Is With the capability of using real cells, 3D bioprinting will make it possible to create living tissue. This […]

Why Organ Donation should be Compulsory?

Imagine this: you are diagnosed with severe heart failure and your only chance of survival is to receive a heart transplant. Although your loved ones would desperately like to help, they are unable to. Unlike a set of lungs or a pair of kidneys, you only have one heart, thus making it impossible to consider the idea of utilizing a living donor. You now are faced with the fact that in order to live, you need to rely on an […]

Definition of Organ Donation

Organ donation is defined as the process of transplanting human organs from one person to another ("Organ donation," 2017). As of November 2018, there are more than 114,600 people on the national waiting list for a donor organ, and a new person is added to the list every 10 minutes ("Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network," n.d.). So far in 2018, over 30,400 transplants have been performed from more than 14,500 donors ("Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network," n.d.). The most commonly […]

Reborn to be Alive : Critical Analysis of an Advertisement

“Becoming a donor is probably your only chance to get inside her.” Reborn to be Alive showcases their slogan proudly across their advertisement as a provocative half-naked woman entices the viewer with her gaze. Being an organ donor means being selfless, having compassion, and altruism; yet being an organ donor isn’t enough sufficiency for a good marketing campaign, thus the sexist direction of their advertisement. Reborn to be Alive meant to capture men’s attention by the use of such sexist […]

Role of the Default Bias in Organ Donation Rates

The first law of motion, also known as the law of inertia by Newton goes like this: A body in motion remains in motion or, if at rest, remains at rest at a constant velocity unless acted on by an external force. If one thought inertia was only confined to the walls of physics, behavioral economics asks them to think again. Here I'd like to introduce the reader to the concept of cognitive bias – an organized and consistent pattern […]

Organ Donation Programmes Across the World

Organ Donation Programmes Across the World China Till 2014, Chinese authorities permitted the harvesting of organs from executed prisoners without prior consent from them or their families. In fact, in December 2005, the country’s deputy health minister estimated that as many as 95 per cent of the organs used in China’s transplants came from such sources. Since then, China has banned the practice and is now trying to galvanize organ donations from regular civilians. Iran Iran is the as it […]

Organ Donation not being Accessible for all

Organ Donation: Not Accessible for All "Don't think of organ donation as giving up part of yourself to keep a total stranger alive. It's really a total stranger giving up almost all of themselves to keep part of you alive" (~Author Unknown). Organ donation is the process of surgically removing an organ or tissue from one person (the organ donor) and placing it into another person (the recipient). This is necessary when the recipient's organ has failed or has been […]

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Organ Donation Essay

Organ donation is a noble act of transplanting healthy organs from a donor to a patient receiver. Human body organs and tissues that function properly are collected and transplanted into patients’ bodies to save their lives. In most cases, organ donations are performed after the donor’s death. But some organs can be donated even when the donors are alive. Kids learning activities like organ donation essays will help them attain more scientific knowledge and better their academic performances.

Superheroes are not born; they are made by society. By participating in activities like organ donations, people can save lives and turn themselves into real superheroes. The following short essay in English on the necessity of performing organ donation in society will help kids improve their basic knowledge about the human body. BYJU’S importance of organ donation essay for kids will also help develop social consciousness and humanity in their minds.

Table of Contents

What is organ donation, necessity of organ donation in the society.

Organ donation can be defined as the process of transplanting an organ or tissue from one person to another person through surgical methods. The recipient performs the transplantation because of organ failure or damage caused by disease or injury. Organ donation marks the advancement of science in the medical sector.

People of all ages can perform organ donation. Organ donations are completely voluntary actions, and people cannot be compelled to engage in these activities. Illiteracy, lack of proper guidance, lack of awareness, the fright of surgery, etc., are some of the major reasons that stop a person from engaging in such charity practices. People hesitate to donate organs because of their misunderstandings related to organ donation procedures. Myths and misconceptions about organ donation have to be cleared from people’s minds. Teachers can direct their students to visit online resources like BYJU’S essay on health education to learn more about human health.

The kidney, eyes, liver, heart, skin tissues, small intestines, and lungs are some of the organs that people commonly donate. Participation in organ donation is a great form of charity and social service. It marks the contribution of individuals after death. We all should pledge to donate our organs to save lives and promote the importance of organ donation by participating in various campaigns.

World Organ Donation Day is observed annually on August 13. It is celebrated by people worldwide to raise awareness about the necessity of organ donation in society. The World Health Organisation and other health organisations conduct live classes on health-related topics to educate people. Essay writing activities on topics like the necessity of organ donation in society and organ donation essay are excellent tools for teaching the little ones about the process and importance of organ donations. For more essays, worksheets and stories , visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is organ donation.

Organ donation is the practice of surgically transplanting an organ or tissue from one person to another person.

When is World Organ Donation Day?

August 13 is observed as World Organ Donation Day.

What do children learn from BYJU’S organ donation essay?

BYJU’S organ donation essay provides an opportunity for kids to attain knowledge of the human organ system. Practising essay writing activities will help them perform well in their academics and score good marks.

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Organ Donation Essay

Table of Contents

Organ donation has proved to be a miracle for the society. Organs such as kidneys, heart, eyes, liver, small intestine, bone tissues, skin tissues and veins are donated for the purpose of transplantation. The donor gives a new life to the recipient by the way of this noble act. Organ donation is encouraged worldwide. The government of different countries have put up different systems in place to encourage organ donation. However, the demand for organs is still quite high as compared to their supply. Effective steps must be taken to meet this ever-increasing demand.

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Long and Short Essay on Organ Donation in English

We have provided below short and long essay on organ donation in simple English for your information and knowledge.

After going through the essays you will know the significance of organ donation for someone in need, the procedure involved, under what circumstances is it illegal to donate an organ and what are safe physical criterion for organ donation.

You can use these organ donation essay in your school college events wherein you need to give a speech, write an essay or take part in debate.

Essay on Organ Donation in 200 words

Organ donation is done by both living and deceased donors. The living donors can donate one of the two kidneys, a lung or a part of a lung, one of the two lobes of their liver, a part of the intestines or a part of the pancreas. While a deceased donor can donate liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, pancreas, cornea tissue, skin tissue, tendons and heart valves.

The organ donation process varies from country to country. The process has broadly been classified into two categories – Opt in and Opt out. Under the opt-in system, one is proactively required to register for donation of his/ her organs while in the opt-out system, every individual becomes a donor post death unless he/she opts-out of it.

There is a huge demand for organs. It is sad how several people in different parts of the world die each year waiting for organ transplant. The governments of different countries are taking steps to raise the supply of organs and in certain parts the number of donors has increased. However, the requirement of organs has simultaneously increased at a much rapid speed.

Each one of us should come forward and register to donate organs after death. “Be an organ donor, all it costs is a little love”.

Also Check: Essay on Organ Trafficking

Essay on Organ Donation in 300 words

Organ donation takes place when an organ of a person’s body is removed with his consent while he is alive or with the consent of his family member after his death for the purpose of research or transplant. Kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, bones, bone marrow, corneas, intestines and skin are transplanted to give new life to the receiver.

Organ Donation Process

• Living Donors

Living donors require undergoing thorough medical tests before organ donation. This also includes psychological evaluation of the donor to ensure whether he understands the consequences of donation and truly consents for it.

• Deceased Donors

In case of the deceased donors, it is first verified that the donor is dead. The verification of death is usually done multiple times by a neurologist. It is then determined if any of his/ her organs can be donated.

After death, the body is kept on a mechanical ventilator to ensure the organs remain in good condition. Most organs work outside the body only for a couple of hours and thus it is ensured that they reach the recipient immediately after removal.

Gap between Demand and Supply

The demand for organs is considerably higher than the number of donors around the world. Each year several patients die waiting for donors. Statistics reveal that in India against an average annual demand for 200,000 kidneys, only 6,000 are received. Similarly, the average annual demand for hearts is 50,000 while as low as 15 of them are available.

The need for organ donation needs to be sensitized among the public to increase the number of donors. The government has taken certain steps such as spreading awareness about the same by way of TV and internet. However, we still have a long way to go.

Organ donation can save a person’s life. Its importance must not be overlooked. A proper system should be put in place for organ donation to encourage the same.

Essay on Organ Donation in 400 words

Organ donation is the process of allowing organ or tissue to be removed surgically from one person to place it in another person or to use it for research purpose. It is done by the consent of donor in case he is alive or by the consent of next of kin after death. Organ donation is encouraged worldwide.

Kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, bones, bone marrow, skin, pancreas, corneas, intestines and skin are commonly used for transplantation to render new life to the recipient. Organ donation is mostly done after the donor’s death. However, certain organs and tissues such as a kidney, lobe of a lung, portion of the liver, intestine or pancreas can be donated by living donors as well.

Organ Donation Consent Process

There are two types of consents when it comes to organ donation. These are the explicit consent and the presumed consent.

• Explicit Consent: Under this the donor provides a direct consent through registration and carrying out other required formalities based on the country.
• Presumed Consent: This does not include a direct consent from the donor or the next of kin. As the name suggests, it is assumed that the donation would have been allowed by the potential donor in case consent was pursued.

Among the possible donors approximately twenty five percent of the families deny donation of their loved one’s organs.

Organ Donation in India

• Legalised by Law

Organ donations are legal as per the Indian law. The Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA), 1994 enacted by the government of India permits organ donation and legalizes the concept of brain death.

• Documentation and Formalities

The donor is required to fill a prescribed form. The same can be taken from the hospital or other medical facility approached for organ donation or can be downloaded from the ministry of health and family welfare government of India’s website.

In case of a deceased donor, a written consent from the lawful custodian is required in the prescribed application form.

As is the case with the rest of the world, the demand of organs in India is much higher compared to their supply. There is a major shortage of donated organs in the country. Several patients are on the wait list and many of them succumb to death waiting for organ transplant.

The government of India is making efforts to spread awareness about organ transplant to encourage the same. However, it needs to take effective steps to raise the number of donors.

Essay on Organ Donation in 500 words

Organ donation refers to the process of giving organs or tissues to a living recipient who requires a transplant. Organ donation is mostly done after death. However, certain organs can be donated even by a living donor.

The organs that are mostly used for the purpose of transplant include kidney, liver, heart, pancreas, intestines, lungs, bones and bone marrow. Each country follows its own procedure for organ donation. Here is a look at how different countries encourage and process organ donation.

Organ Donation Process – Opt In and Opt Out

While certain countries follow the organ donation opt-in procedure others have the opt-out procedure in place. Here is a look at the difference between these two processes of organ donation:

• Opt In System: In the opt-in system, people are required to proactively sign up for the donation of their organs after death.
• Opt Out System: Under this system, organ donation automatically occurs unless a person specifically makes a request to opt out before death.

Organ Donation in Different Countries

India follows the opt-in system when it comes to organ donation. Anyone who wishes to donate organs needs to fill a prescribed form available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India’s website.

In order to control organ commerce and encourage donation after brain death, the government of India came up with the law, The Transplantation of Human Organs Act in the year 1994. This brought about a considerable change in terms of organ donation in the country.

Spain is known to be the world leader in organ donations. It follows the opt-out system for organ donation.

• United States

The need for organs in the United States is growing at a rapid pace. Though there has been a rise in the number of organ donors, however, the number of patients waiting for the organs has increased at a much higher rate. Organ donation in the United States is done only with the consent of the donor or their family. However, several organizations here are pushing for the opt-out organ donation.

• United Kingdom

Organ donation in the United Kingdom is voluntary. Individuals who want to donate their organs after death can register for the same.

This is the only country that has been able to overcome the shortage of transplant organs. It has a legal payment system for organ donation and is also the only country that has legalized organ trade.

Organ donation is quite low in Japan as compared to other western countries. This is mainly due to cultural reasons, distrust in western medicines and a controversial organ transplant that took place in 1968.

In Columbia, the ‘Law 1805’ passed in August 2016, introduced the opt-out policy for organ donation.

Chile opted for the opt-out policy for organ donation under the, ‘Law 20,413’ wherein all the citizens above the age of 18 years will donate organs unless they specifically deny it before death.

Most of the countries around the world suffer from low organ donor rate. The issue must be taken more seriously. Laws to increase the rate of organ donation must be put in place to encourage the same.

Essay on Organ Donation in 600 words

Organ Donation is the surgical removal of a living or dead donor’s organs to place them in the recipient to render him/her a new life. Organ donation has been encouraged worldwide. However, the demand of human organs far outweighs the supply. Low rate of organ donation around the world can be attributed to various reasons. These reasons are discussed below in detail.

Teleological Issues

The moral status of the black market organ donation is debatable. While some argue in favour of it others are absolutely against the concept. It has been seen that those who donate their organs are generally from the poor section of the society and those who can afford these are quite well off. There is thus an imbalance in the trade.

It has been observed that those who can purchase the organs are taking advantage of the ones who are desperate to sell. This is said to be one of the reasons for the rising inequality of status between the rich and the poor. On the other hand, it is argued that those who want to sell their organs should be allowed to do so as preventing them from it is only contributing to their status as impoverished. Those who are in favour of the organ trade also argue that exploitation is preferable to death and hence organ trade must be legalized. However, as per a survey, later in life the living donors regret their decision of donating their organs.

Several cases of organ theft have also come forward. While those in support of the legalization of organ market say that this happens because of the black market nature of trade while others state that legalizing it would only result in the rise of such crimes as the criminal can easily state that the organ being sold has not been stolen.

Deontological Issues

These are defined by a person’s ethical duty to take action. Almost all the societies in the world believe that donating organs voluntarily is ethically permissible. Many scholars believe that everyone should donate their organs after death.

However, the main issue from the standpoint of deontological ethics is the debate over the definitions of life, death, body and human. It has been argued that organ donation is an act of causing self harm. The use of cloning to come up with organs with a genotype identical to the recipient is another controversial topic.

Xenotransplantation which is the transfer of animal organs into human bodies has also created a stir. Though this has resulted in increased supply of organs it has also received a lot of criticism. Certain animal rights groups have opposed the sacrifice of animals for organ donation. Campaigns have been launched to ban this new field of transplantation.

Religious Issues

Different religious groups have different viewpoints regarding organ donation. The Hindu religion does not prohibit people from donating organs. The advocates of the Hindu religion state that it is an individual choice. Buddhists share the same view point.

The Catholics consider it as an act of love and charity. It is morally and ethically acceptable as per them. The Christian Church, Islam, United Methodists and Judaism encourage organ donation. However, Gypsies tend to oppose it as they believe in afterlife. The Shintos are also against it as they believe that injuring a dead body is a heinous crime.

Apart from this, the political system of a country also impacts organ donation. The organ donation rate can increase if the government extends proper support. There needs to be a strong political will to ensure rise in the transplant rate. Specialized training, care, facilities and adequate funding must be provided to ensure a rise.

The demand for organs has always been way higher than their supply due to the various issues discussed above. There is a need to focus on these issues and work upon them in order to raise the number of organ donors.

Essay on Organ Donation FAQs

How do you write an organ donation essay.

To write an organ donation essay, start with an introduction explaining its importance, discuss benefits, address common concerns, and conclude with a call to action for readers to consider becoming donors.

What is a short note on organ donation?

Organ donation involves willingly giving one's organs after death to save lives. It's a selfless act that can bring hope and health to those in need.

How important is organ donation?

Organ donation is crucial as it saves lives by providing organs to individuals suffering from organ failure, offering them a chance for a healthier and longer life.

What is the aim of organ donation?

The aim of organ donation is to provide organs and tissues from willing donors to those in need, improving the quality of life and increasing survival rates for recipients.

What are the 4 types of organ donation?

The four types of organ donation include deceased donation (after death), living donation (from a living person), paired exchange (swapping organs between two donor-recipient pairs), and directed donation (to a specific person).

What is the concept of organ donation?

Organ donation is the voluntary act of giving one's organs or tissues to save or enhance the lives of others, often occurring after death or, in some cases, while the donor is still alive.

Which organ Cannot be donated?

The brain cannot be donated for transplantation. While other organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs can be donated, the brain's complex functions make it ineligible for donation.

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Organ Transplantation and Donation Essay

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Political implications of organ transplantation in the US and UK

Border security issues in us, transnational public health issues, black market on organ transplant in the us and uk, laws if they negatively or positively affecting organ transplant., works cited.

Organ transplantation has raised a number of issues in many governments and states in the world. This is because the practice involves human lives, and therefore, caution must be taken in order to respect human dignity. In many cases, people have been involved in the exercise out of their knowledge hence calling for governments’ intervention to save the situation. For instance, people have been cheated or enticed with monetary gifts to donate their body organs to other people.

Politics have played key roles in transplantation of body organs both in United States of America and the United Kingdom. Political leaders have come out clearly to defend human rights through creating legislations for the practice (Shibles and Maier 63). This is important as people may be involved in human trafficking in order to kill and extract organs illegally.

Therefore, governments have come up with rules that govern donation and transplantation of organs to safe guard other people. Politicians in these countries have taken advantage of the situation to gather support from people as they advocate for their needs. This means that leaders who support donation of organs seem to care about people’s lives. On the other hand, people love politicians who advocate for the rights of everyone hence considering them for bigger positions in the political arena.

Border security in United States has been contemplated by increase in organ transplantation in various states. This is due to the fact that United States advocates for human rights and dignity hence they prohibit any illegal practice that can be harmful to human beings. Wealthy patients pay a lot of money to get body organs if they fail to get free donations.

This has seen many brokers venture in organ trade whereby they acquire organs from people in developing countries at low prices and take them to hospitals in United States of America for transplantation. This is very inhuman since selfish people take advantage of poverty in some countries to oppress the poor. The government of the United States of America together with law enforcers faces a lot of challenges in combatting the crime within their borders (Shelton and Balint 48).

This means that the business is discouraged although people may succeed to sneak illegal organs into the country through other means. The government has to do everything within its reach to make sure that people do not have transplants from unknown destinations. This can be achieved by involving health practitioners in fighting the crime by making sure that organs are attained in an appropriate manner.

Since people donate organs to others regardless of their locations, nations need to be cautious in order to avoid spread of diseases in the process. There is the issue on spreading of communicable diseases across national borders and this may be fatal to the recipient nation. In addition, people may be faced by gross human trafficking in situations where certain people are known to have specific characteristics desired by patients.

For instance, in some communities tend to have immunity against some conditions due to their lifestyles. This may pose a great danger to citizens as they may be targeted for their healthy organs (Klein, Lewis and Madsen 98). Therefore, governments should work together to make sure that they help in safeguarding health conditions within their states. In addition, they should make sure that people are not exposed to harassment.

Nations should protect donation and transplantation of organs within their personal borders in order to safeguards rights of their neighbors. This is vital because transnational issues may hinder regional developments or even result to war between neighbors. People may develop animosity following issues of extracting organs by force hence demoralizing members of neighboring communities.

Black markets are illegal markets which governments are left out of the business activities. People involved in black markets do not pay taxes to the government and this affects economies as tax free goods find their way to the market. This means that people may opt for cheaper goods hence reducing demand for legal goods hence affecting revenue generation by countries. In United States of America and the United Kingdom, people have taken initiatives in organ trading without following the right procedure set by governments.

People have been able to acquire body organs and stock them in organ banks in various hospitals without paying taxes or following the right medical procedures set by governments (petechuk 76). In fact, organs have been imported from other continents into United States of America and United kingdoms without clearance from the government.

In most cases business people collude with law enforcers and revenue collectors to illegally import human organs into those states. Organ donation is a vital process and governments should not allow illegal practices because it might end up affecting people in a great manner.

Laws set by both the United States of America and United Kingdom aims at ensuring that the activity is safe for humans. For example, there are laws aimed at ensuring that their citizens receive quality organs whenever need for transplants arise (David and Price 98). They achieve this by involving leaders from donor nations to ensure that they monitor the donation process. This includes ensuring that only people with good health records are allowed to donate body organs.

This is important for both the donor and the recipient since they are involved in the transplant directly. This means that donors may end up complicating their health conditions after donating crucial organs. Doctors should be involved in examining donors to advise them on whether to donate an organ or not depending with their body conditions (petechuk 76).

Governments should make sure that medical practitioners do not take part in illegal extraction or transplantation of organs. Laws should be set up by leaders to make sure that medical practitioners involved in illegal organ deals are punished. This will caution doctors and patients from encouraging the illegal business hence helping in combatting crimes against human rights.

Organ transplantation is among the latest development in the field of medicine. Doctors have been able to save people’s lives in the recent past whereby people donate body organs to institutions. However, a lot of activities have emerged involving organ donations leading to situations where people sell their organs. Governments had to intervene to bring sanity in countries as people could risk losing their lives for money.

Regulations have been set up by governments to make sure that donation is guided by moral principles. In addition, qualified personnel have to be involved in advising and extracting organs from donors. Diseases control units have been set up to ensure that diseases are not transmitted through organ transplantation.

David P and Price T. Legal and Ethical Aspects of Organ Transplantation . New Jersey: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print.

Klein, Andrew, Lewis Clive J and Madsen Joren C. Organ Transplantation: A Clinical Guide. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011. Print.

Petechuk, David. Organ Transplantation . New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2006. Print.

Shelton, Wayne N and Balint John. The Ethics Of Organ Transplantation, Volume 7. London: Emerald Group Publishing, 2001. Print.

Shibles, W and Maier Barbara. The Philosophy and Practice of Medicine and Bioethics: A Naturalistic-Humanistic Approach . Michigan: Springer, 2010. Print

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Organ Donation — Organ Donation: Analysis of Ethical Issues Involved

Organ Donation: Analysis of Ethical Issues Involved

• Categories: Organ Donation Organ Transplant

About this sample

Words: 1773 |

Published: Oct 2, 2020

Words: 1773 | Pages: 4 | 9 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, the ethics of organ procurement, the ethical implications for recipients and donors, emerging ethical issues and future considerations, works cited.

• Biotechnological Advancements
• Data Privacy and Equity
• Cultural and Religious Perspectives
• Patient Advocacy and Education
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Abadie, A., & Gay, S. (2006). The impact of presumed consent legislation on cadaveric organ donation: A cross-country study. Journal of Health Economics, 25(4), 599-620.
• Boudjema, K. (2019). Opt-out organ donation: A public health policy that will save lives. Journal of Hepatology, 71(1), 184-186.
• Dewey, C., & Holecek, A. (2017). Organ transplantation and ethical dilemmas in nursing practice: An overview. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 14(3), 365-373.
• Gómez‐Lobo, A., & Topic, D. (2016). Organ donation: Presumed consent and compulsory rules. The Hastings Center Report, 46(2), 21-28.
• Grinyó, J. M. (2009). Why do we have a shortage of organs for transplantation? A Spanish point of view. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 24(3), 698-701.
• Jansen, N. E., Haase-Kromwijk, B. J., van Leiden, H. A., Hoitsma, A. J., & IJzermans, J. N. (2018). The implementation of opt-out systems instead of informed consent: A possible solution to organ donation shortages in the Netherlands. Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde, 162, D2061.
• Kardamanidis, K., Russell, J., Prakash, V., Axelrad, J., & Ravindra, K. V. (2018). Opt-out system improves organ donation rates in the United States: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Transplantation, 32(3), e13164.
• Moradi, S., Abbasi, M., & Hami, M. (2017). A systematic review of the effect of presumed consent systems on organ donation. Transplantation Proceedings, 49(7), 1405-1410.
• Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. (2021). OPTN/SRTR 2020 annual data report: Transplantation. Health Resources and Services Administration, Healthcare Systems Bureau, Division of Transplantation. https://srtr.transplant.hrsa.gov/annual_reports/2020/Default.aspx
• Sadler, G., & Webb, C. (2018). The ethics of organ donation and transplantation: An overview. Journal of Nursing Ethics, 25(3), 265-274.

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• Learn About Donation
• How Donation Works

Living Organ Donation

You can donate a kidney, a piece of your liver, and certain other organs and tissues while alive. About 6,500 living donation transplants take place each year.

Unlike deceased donors, a living donor can decide who to donate their organ to, helping a recipient get an organ transplant faster. Most living donations happen between family members or close friends. Other people choose to donate to someone they don't know. See stories of real people who have donated and received organs.

Living donation is typically safe for the donor. Most living donors go on to live active, healthy lives and can see the positive impact of their donation.

While alive, you can donate one kidney , part of your liver , and certain other organs and tissues.

85% of people on the organ transplant waiting list need a kidney .

Benefits of living donation

• As a living donor, you can choose who receives your organ.
• You can reduce someone’s waiting time for an organ transplant.
• Living kidney donation can prevent—or shorten—the need for kidney dialysis.
• Research has shown that recipients of organs from living donors have better outcomes than those who receive organs from deceased donors.

Kidneys are the organs most frequently needed, followed by livers. Both of these organs can be donated by living donors to save someone’s life.

You may be able to donate:

• One kidney 85% of people awaiting a transplant need a kidney. A kidney is the most commonly donated organ. Your remaining kidney removes waste from the body.
• Segment of the liver Remaining liver cells grow or refresh until your liver is almost its original size. This happens in a short amount of time for both you and the recipient.
• One lobe of the lung, part of the pancreas, or part of the intestine These donations are rare. While these organs don’t regrow, the portion you donate and the portion that remains can function fully.
• Skin—after surgeries such as a tummy tuck
• Bone—after knee and hip replacements
• Healthy cells from  bone marrow and umbilical cord blood
• Amnion—donated after childbirth
• Blood—white and red blood cells—and platelets

You can donate blood or bone marrow more than once. The body replaces them after you donate.

Understanding living donation

• Most living donors go on to live healthy and active lives.
• Most living donors report living donation as a positive emotional experience.
• Living donors tend to have similar or better quality of life than before the donation.

Parents, husbands, wives, friends, co-workers—even total strangers—can be living donor candidates.

To be a living donor, you must:

• Be at least 18 or older (some transplant hospitals require donors to be at least 21)
• Have good physical and mental health
• Know the risks and benefits of living donation
• Make an informed decision that living donation is right for you

Both you and the transplant hospital staff will need to decide whether living donation is right for you. Hospital staff will gather a lot of information about you to determine if you are healthy enough to donate an organ.

You can expect to:

• Complete a physical exam, lab tests, and screenings for cancer and other conditions
• Answer questions about your medical history
• Receive a mental health evaluation
• Answer questions about your social support
• Discuss your financial situation and whether you can take time off from work or any caregiving responsibilities
• Learn about the risks and benefits of living donation

If tests show that you are not compatible with the person in need of an organ transplant, you may have other options to donate, such as kidney paired donation .

• Surgery takes place at a transplant hospital.
• Living kidney donors typically stay two to three days in the hospital; liver donors can expect about a five-day stay.
• Living donors resume normal activities after donation recovery, which takes about six to twelve weeks when donating a kidney and about eight to twelve weeks when donating part of the liver.

For more information about the living donation process, visit the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network's living donation page .

Transplant centers follow-up with living donors after the transplant. They report, on average, living donors do well over the long term.

As with most medical procedures, there are possible risks for living organ donation surgery. These risks differ depending on each individual donor as well as the type of organ donated. Short-term effects may include pain or infection from the procedure. Long-term effects can include hypertension for kidney donors, or intestinal problems for liver donors.

As more research emerges on the impact of donation on living donors, the more we can fully understand the risks and benefits to living donors.

What to think about before you donate

• Recovery from surgery takes time, and donors may have to take off work and stop certain activities for a while.
• Living donors do not have to pay for medical costs because the recipient’s insurance usually covers expenses.
• You may experience medical problems that delay your return to work.
• You may face lost wages from being out of work, or incur additional costs for childcare or other expenses, depending on your situation.
• Some living donors have had problems keeping insurance coverage at the same level and rate.

It can be very rewarding to help another person. You can donate an organ to someone you know (directed donation) or to someone you don’t know (non-directed donation). If you wish to help someone through directed donation but you are not a match, kidney paired donation may be an option.

Kidney paired donation allows for two or more incompatible donor/recipient pairs to swap donors. The donors are then able to give their kidney to a compatible recipient in a different pair. By exchanging donors, a compatible match can be found for these recipients.

The National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) provides financial help to living donors.

They may be able to help you with:

• Travel, lodging, meals, and extras
• Childcare and eldercare costs related to your evaluation, surgery, and follow-up visits

Learn more about NLDAC .

You can learn more by contacting the patient services department of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) at 1-888-894-6361 or email [email protected] .

Visit the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) site on living donation .

A next step

If you would like to help someone you know through living directed donation , talk to them and contact the transplant program where the person is listed. If you would like to help someone you do not know by being a living non-directed donor , contact a transplant hospital of your choice and ask if they have such a donation program. Go to the OPTN Member Directory for a list of transplant hospitals.

View or download English and Spanish educational materials on living organ donation, including videos, an infographic, social media graphics, and fact sheets for potential donors and recipients.