Information for living organ donors

Every year, more than 6,000 Americansbecome living organ donors. Usually,they donate a kidney. But donors canalso give a part of their liver, lung orpancreas. If you are thinking aboutbecoming a living organ donor, thisbrochure provides you with importantquestions to ask your health care teamabout the donation process.

For more informationGift of Life Donation Initiativewww.organdonor.gov

United Network For Organ Sharingwww.unos.org

Association of Organ Procurement Organizationswww.aopo.org

University Renal Research and Education Associationwww.ustransplant.org

National Kidney Foundationwww.livingdonors.org

Help prevent errors in your care:For surgical patientswww.jointcommission.org/PatientSafety/SpeakUp/

Health Care at the Crossroads:Strategies for Narrowing the Organ Donation Gap and Protecting Patientswww.jointcommission.org/PublicPolicy/organ_donation.htm

Joint Commission Transplant Center Certification Programwww.jointcommission.org/CertificationPrograms/TransplantCenterCertification/

Information for living organ donors

www.jointcommission.org

Can anyone be a donor?

No. Living organ donors must behealthy.They cannot have diseases likediabetes, cancer, and kidney, heart andblood disease.Also, the donor’s bloodtype must match the recipient’s.And,donors must be able to handle thestress of surgery and recovery.

Will you have medical tests?

Yes.Your health care team will do teststo see if you are healthy enough to be adonor.Tell them about your health his-tory and any concerns you have.

Are there risks?

All surgeries have risks, including therisk of death.You could get an infectionor another complication.Ask about therisks of your surgery.

Will you get the same kind of health care as the organ recipient?

Both you and the organ recipient shouldexpect safe, high quality care.

Is living organ donationalways successful?

No. Sometimes, the recipient’s bodyrejects the new organ. Or, the recipientmay have complications.You can askabout the expected result of the surgeryfor the recipient, and the risks to him or her.

Can you change your mind?

Yes.You can change your mind at anytime for any reason. Organ donation is apersonal decision. No one can make thedecision for you.You should not feelpressured to donate.

How do you get ready for the surgery?

• Ask your health insurance company if it will cover your care and any complications from the surgery.Ask ifyour premium or coverage will changeas a result of your donation.

• Ask your life insurance company if your premium or coverage will change.

• Find out about the medical leavepolicy where you work. If you taketime off with less or no pay, youwill need to budget carefully.

• Ask the hospital to help connectyou with someone who has donat-ed an organ.This person will giveyou a better idea of what to expect.

• Ask someone you trust to be withyou at the hospital.This person canmake sure you get the care youneed to feel comfortable and safe.

What happens after thesurgery?

• If the surgery is out of town, makeplans to get back home after youleave the hospital. Or, ask the hospital to help you find a place to recover until you can travel.

• If you live alone, have children orlive with the organ recipient, findsomeone you trust who can care foryou while you recover.You may bein pain or feel weak or tired.Andpain pills can make you groggy.

What should you ask thedoctor?

• Is organ donation the only solutionfor the recipient?

• What tests will be done to makesure you are healthy enough to be a donor?

• Does the hospital have a specialunit and specially trained nurses to care for living organ donors?

• Has your surgeon done this operation before? How many times?

• What are the risks of the surgery?

• What medicines will you need totake? Are there side effects? Will you need to take medicines for along time?

• What kind of follow-up care willyou need? Who will oversee yourfollow-up care?

• How long will recovery take? Will it be difficult?

• Will you need physical therapy or any other kind of therapy?

• How will the organ donation affectyour health in the future? What isyour risk to develop organ failureafter donation?

• When can you exercise? When can you get back to your regularroutine? Are there any sports orother activities that you won’t beable to do after donation? Will itaffect your ability to do your job?

• Does the surgeon use the JointCommission’s Universal Protocolto Prevent Wrong Site, WrongProcedure and Wrong PersonSurgery™?