We Need Your Help

 United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a non profit, charitable organization - that serves as the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under contract with the federal government. 

The OPTN helps create and define organ allocation and distribution policies that make the best use of donated organs. This process involves continuously evaluating new advances and discoveries so policies can be adapted to best serve patients waiting for transplants. 

All transplant programs and organ procurement organizations throughout the country are OPTN members and are obligated to follow the policies the OPTN creates for allocating organs.  

 Living organ donation is when a living person donates an organ or a part of an organ for transplantation into another person.  

As a living organ donor, you can shorten the wait for a transplant patient.

 Living donor transplants can help shorten or eliminate the wait for an organ by: 

 Giving transplant candidates more options to plan.

 Helping kidney transplant candidates get an organ transplant before they need to begin dialysis.  

To be a living donor:

A.  You must be an adult over the age of 18,

B. Be in good physical and mental health, 

C. Understand the risks and benefits of living donation, and decide for yourself whether living donation is right for you.

Transplant hospital staff will:

1.. Give you a full physical examination and some medical tests.  

2. Ask about your medical history. 

3. Ask about your social support.  

4. Assess your mental health.  

5.  Ask about your financial situation, and your ability to take time off from your commitments.  

6.  Inform you about the risks and benefits of living donation. 

7. Make sure that your decision to donate is yours alone.  

If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure.

Untreated psychiatric condition.

Cancer.

Diabetes.

Certain Infections or other health issues identified by the transplant hospital staff.

 If you want to donate to someone you know but want to get tested before telling the transplant candidate, talk to their transplant hospital. Many transplant hospitals will test you without telling the transplant candidate.  

 Call the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) at 1-888-894-6361 or email Patient.Services@unos.org 

 If you and the transplant hospital staff agree that it makes sense for you to be evaluated, the transplant hospital staff will put you in touch with an independent living donor advocate.