Organ Donation Resources

As of July 31, 2007, 96,853 people in the United State are waiting on one or more organs.

Find out how you can make a difference by becoming an organ donor.

Who can become a donor?

Almost everyone is a potential donor. There is no age limit. Those who are HIV positive, have active cancer or systemic infection are the exceptions. Potential donors are evaluated for suitability when the occasion arises.

What can be donated?

Organs: heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines

Tissue: cornea, skin, bone marrow, heart valves, and connective tissue

Bone marrow

Are there any costs to families for donation?

The donor's family does not pay for the cost of the organ donation. All costs related to donation of organs and tissues are paid by the recipient, usually through insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

Share Your Decision

While you can indicate your desire to donate your organs on your driver's license and by signing and carrying an organ donor card, organ donation should always be discussed with family members before the donation. To make sure that your family knows of your wishes, it is vital to discuss your decision.

To learn more about organ donation:

• You can read more about organ donation through Donate Life.

• Click here for facts and myths about organ donation.

• According to the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program, about 50% of those national transplant waiting list represent minorities.

• The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) is the unified transplant network established by the United States Congress under the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984. The act called for the network to be operated by a private, non-profit organization under federal contract.

• The United Network for Organ Sharing is the nonprofit organization that coordinates U.S. organ transplants.

Sources: OPTN, UNOS, OrganDonor.gov