Read About Organ Donation

Generally, you can donate organs in one of two ways: upon your death or while you are living.

Donating Your Organs Upon Your Death

You can ensure that your wishes to donate are honored by your loved ones by following the guidelines in your state, carrying a donor card, and telling your loved ones about your wishes.  Your decision to be a donor will not affect the medical care you receive at the hospital; the doctors and nurses will do everything they can to save your life.  The opportunity to donate is offered to your family only after all lifesaving measures have failed and death is declared.  Most religions support organ donation.  There is no cost for organ and tissue donation.  And, your funeral arrangements will not be delayed if you donate your organs; you may have an open casket service.

Donating Your Organs When You Are Living

You can donate all or part of your pancreas, liver, intestines, islets, lungs, and kidneys to someone who needs an organ transplant.  The organ transplant recipient can be a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or someone you don't know.  The decision to donate is in your hands; you should not be emotionally or psychologically pressured to do so. 

If you would like to know more about living organ donation, contact The Transplant Center at (800) 328-5465 or (612) 625-5115.  We want to help you understand living donation and are here to guide you through that process.  If  you do decide to donate, you will be go through an evaluation process.  During this process, you will receive additional information about the surgery and its potential risks and benefits. 

Since The Transplant Center performs the highest number of living donor surgeries in the United States, you will have access to information about the long term medical and psychological outcomes of donation.  We have extensively studied our donor population to assure their safety and well-being before, during and after the surgery.  In addition, you will be encouraged to talk to people who have already undergone donor surgery in order to obtain a personal perspective.