The Unknown
What are the Benefits and Risks of Organ Donation?
With more than 100,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the United States, the demand for donors is at an all-time high. Although deceased donors save lives after their death, the need for organs is still great, because there aren’t enough deceased donors to meet the demand of people currently on the national waiting list. The purpose of the Living Donor Collective is to gather the data necessary to answer a range of questions about living donation. By assessing the gathered data, we can begin to evaluate the potential benefits and risks of living donation. Currently, what we know is as follows.
Potential Risks
Surgery and Post-Donation
With every living organ donation, there are certain risks involved. One of the biggest risks with living organ donation is undergoing major surgery and the recovery involved after that surgery. Also, conditions may develop after the organ donation that compromise the function of the remaining organs.
Kidney
Although kidneys are recovered with small incisions, risks are still associated with the process, like blood clots, postoperative infections, complications, or reactions to the anesthesia.
Conditions such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD), as well as other diseases, may be of concern long-term after an organ donation.
For more information on the medical risks of living kidney donation and whether you can donate with certain medical conditions, visit the kidney medical toolkit provided by The American Society of Transplantation.
To view research on long-term outcomes for living kidney donors and more, view our publications page.
Liver
Similar to living kidney donation, potential risks associated with living liver donation include blood clots and infections. Another possible complication is bile duct leakage.
While research on the long-term outcomes of liver living donation has not been extensive, the need for more data has garnered attention in recent years.
Financial
Although the medical cost of organ donation and transplant is usually covered by the recipient’s insurance, other factors (eg, travel to the transplant center, postoperative recovery, lost wages due to the length of recovery) may come into play. All potential donors should consider these issues before deciding to become a potential living donor.
For additional information on the financial aspects of living donation, visit The American Society of Transplantation (AST) for a financial toolkit and The National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC).
Benefits
Saving A Life
As an organ donor, you not only save the life of the recipient, but you also improve the lives of the people who love them. There is a lot of emotional, financial, and mental stress on both the waiting recipient and their families. Through donation, you improve the patient’s quality of life and end the cycle of pain and financial turmoil for all people involved.
A Second Chance
Also, you provide a positive outcome for the recipient as well as yourself. By giving someone a second chance at life, you also perform a significant altruistic and humanitarian act.
Advancing Science
Last, your single act of organ donation helps further medical research. Because the Living Donor Collective monitors your well-being and outcomes, you help the solid organ transplant community advance and develop.
Choosing To Donate
Deciding to donate can be challenging and should be discussed with your family and loved ones. Your local transplant center can give you information about the benefits and risks in order to make an informed decision. If you have other questions about LDC’s purpose, please contact us.