Commonly Asked Questions
The decision to register as an organ donor is personal and can require additional thought and reflection. Here you will find answers to some of your questions.
There are approximately 100,000 people waiting nationally for a transplant. Nearly 8,000 of those are children and adults here in New York waiting for a lifesaving transplant. These people are our family, friends and neighbors. We can help them by saying yes to organ donation.
What is the organ donation process?
Non-living donation only happens once someone has died and can only be done with consent by you prior to your passing or by your family after your passing. LiveOnNY works with hospitals to carry out a person’s wishes to be an organ donor after their death. We also work with families who choose to give the gift of life on behalf of a deceased love one if that loved one was not a registered organ donor. Once someone consents to being an organ donor, a surgery is performed to recover organs from the donor. They are then transplanted to someone in need in order to help save their life.
Can I trust that the process is fair?
Organ, eye and tissue donation are highly regulated processes that ensure fairness and equity. The hospital where a person receives care and the organizations that maintain the organ donation registry, facilitate organ and tissue donation, and maintain the transplant waiting list are all separate entities. This is to ensure that there is no conflict of interest and that no part of the process can be influenced. Matching organ donors to transplant recipients is solely based on health factors and cannot be altered by factors such as race, economic status, or celebrity status.
Will doctors work as hard to save my life?
Doctors, nurses, paramedics and other hospital personnel are legally obligated to do everything in their power to save a patient’s life. LiveOnNY is a separate organization that works with families to facilitate organ donation only after a patient is deemed terminal. At no point will your care be compromised if you are a registered organ donor, or if your family has decided to donate your organs after your death.
Does my religion support organ donation?
Major religions celebrate organ donation as an opportunity to save lives and view it as a final act of kindness. The blessings associated with saving a life are also held in higher esteem than the religious laws surrounding burial. We encourage you to speak with your faith leader if you have additional questions. Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam and Catholicism have all stated approval for organ donation when done with the intention of saving lives.
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Downloadable Resources
Download the Organ Donation Facts Brochure
Living donation
Living donation is the way the medical profession refers to donating an organ to someone in need while the donor is living. Living donors may donate a kidney, a part of the liver and in some rare cases, a portion of the pancreas, intestine and a lung.
What is the process like for living donation?
To be considered as a living donor, an individual needs to reach out to a local transplant center. The transplant center will need to conduct a psychosocial and medical evaluation. The evaluation process will help the donor understand all aspects of living donation. These tests are important to protect the donor and ensure the success of the transplant.
Living kidney donation
The National Kidney Donation Organization (NKDO) is an organization of Living Donors who help mentor those looking to donate a kidney as well as helping those who are in need of a kidney transplant. NKDO provides education and information to prospective living kidney donors. If you are interested in learning more about living kidney donation, please visit their website at www.nkdo.org.
Living liver donation
The American Liver Foundation (ALF) works to fight against liver disease by providing financial support for medical research, education for medical professionals, and advocacy. ALF provides information for patients and their families and creates public awareness campaigns about liver wellness and disease prevention. If you are interested in learning more about living liver donation, please visit their website at www.liverfoundation.org.