Organ Donation and Transplantation
                     ORGAN DONATION 
AND 
TRANSPLANTATION: 
HOW IT WORKS
INTRODUCTION
Organ donation and transplantation 
is removing an organ from one 
person (the donor) and surgically 
placing it in another (the recipient) 
whose organ has failed. Organs that 
can be donated include the liver, 
kidney, pancreas and heart.
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org
WHAT IS ORGAN 
DONATION AND 
TRANSPLANTATIO
N?
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). 
Transplantation is necessary 
because the recipient’s organ has 
failed or has been damaged by 
disease or injury.
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org
NEED FOR ORGAN 
DONORS
Unfortunately, the need for organ 
donors is much greater than the 
number of people who actually 
donate. 
Every day in the United States, 21 
people die waiting for an organ and 
more than 107,380 men, women and 
children await life-saving organ 
transplants.
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org
WHAT ORGANS 
AND TISSUES CAN 
BE 
TRANSPLANTED?
Organs and tissues that can be 
transplanted include:
• Liver
• Kidney
• Pancreas
• Heart
• Lung
• Intestine
• Corneas
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org
WHO CAN BE AN 
ORGAN DONOR?
People of all ages should consider 
themselves potential donors. When a 
person dies, they are evaluated for 
donor suitability based on their 
medical history and age. The organ 
procurement organization 
determines medical suitability for 
donation.
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org
HOW DO YOU 
BECOME AN 
ORGAN DONOR?
You might join a donor registry. A 
registry is more than just an 
expression of interest in becoming a 
donor. It’s a way to legally give 
consent for the anatomical gift of 
organs, tissue and eyes.
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org
ARE THERE ANY 
COSTS TO THE 
ORGAN DONOR'S 
FAMILY FOR 
DONATION?
There is no cost to the donor’s family 
or estate for the donation of organs, 
tissue or eyes. Funeral costs remain 
the responsibility of the family.
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org
WILL ORGAN 
DONATION 
DISFIGURE THE 
BODY?
The recovery of organs, tissue and 
eyes is a surgical procedure 
performed by trained medical 
professionals. Generally, the family 
may still have a traditional funeral 
service.
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org
FACTORS 
• Blood type
• Tissue type
• Organ size
• Medical urgency of the patient’s 
illness
• Time already spent on the waiting 
list
• Geographical distance between 
the donor and the recipient
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org
WHAT'S INVOLVED 
WITH BECOMING 
A LIVING ORGAN 
DONOR?
• A living donation, such as the 
donation of one healthy kidney or 
a segment of a healthy liver from 
a living human being to another, is 
arranged though the individual 
transplant centers according to 
criteria they have in place. 
Source: my.clevelandclinic.org