Transplant Services - photo by Scott Holmes - renal transplant, kidney transplant, pancreas transplant, dialysis, transplant, houston, Texas, MHH-TMC, Hermann hospital, Memorial Hermann, Texas Medical Center
Department of Surgery

FAQ

Q: How do I become an organ donor?

A: Fill out and carry an organ donor card. Be certain that you inform you family of your decision to become an organ donor. Your family may be asked to sign a consent form in order for your donation to occur.

A: Register with the State of Texas at https://www.donatelifetexas.org/

A: Register with another state at: http://www.donatelife.net/

Q: Are wealthy people and celebrities moved to the top of the organ waiting list?

A: The organ allocation and distribution system is not based upon wealth or social status. The length of time it takes to receive a transplant is dictated by many factors, including blood type, length of time on the waiting list, severity of illness, and other medical criteria. Factors such as race, gender, age, income, or celebrity status are never considered when determining who receives an organ.

Q: Will organ donation mutilate my body or make an open casket funeral impossible?

A: No. Donated organs are removed surgically, in a routine operation similar to gallbladder or appendix removal. This procedure does not disfigure the body and an open casket funeral is certainly possible for organ and/or tissue donors.

Q: Will my family be charged for donating my organs?

A: Donation costs nothing to the donor's family or estate. All costs related to donation of organs and tissues are paid by the recipient, usually through insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid.

Q: Can I sell my organs?

A: No! The National Organ Transplant Act (Public Law 98-507) makes it ILLEGAL to sell human organs and tissues. Violators are subject to fines and imprisonment. Among the reasons for this rule is the concern of Congress that buying and selling of organs might lead to inequitable access to donor organs with the wealthy having an unfair advantage.

Q: If I am in an accident and the hospital knows that I want to be a donor, will the doctors let me die?

A: Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. The medical team treating you is completely separate from the transplant team. The organ procurement organization (OPO) is not notified until all lifesaving efforts have failed and death has been determined. The OPO does not notify the transplant team until your family has consented to donation.

Q: Are there age limits for becoming an organ donor?

A: Organs may be donated from newborns on up. The general age limit for tissue donation is 70. At the time of your death, the appropriate medical professionals will determine whether your organs are usable. The deciding factor on whether a person can donate is the person's physical condition, not the person's age. Medical suitability for donation is determined at the time of death. Persons under 18 must have the consent of a parent or guardian.

Q: What if my religion does not support donation?

A: While you may want to discuss your decision with your clergy, all mainstream organized religions approve of organ and tissue donation and consider it an act of charity.

Q: What organs or tissues may be donated?

A: Needed organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines. Tissues that may be donated include the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves and tendons.

Q: Can I just have my wish to be an organ donor written into my will?

A: No. By the time your will is read, it will be too late to recover your organs. Telling your family now that you want to be an organ and tissue donor is the best way to ensure that your wishes are carried out.

Q: I've heard stories about people being drugged and waking to find their kidney has been removed to be sold on the black market. Are these stories true?

A: Not at all. This urban legend has been widely circulated over the Internet. There is absolutely no evidence of such activity ever occurring in the U.S. or any other industrialized country. It has no basis in reality. Many people who hear the myth probably dismiss it, but it is possible that some believe it and decide against organ donation out of needless fear.

Q: How will having only one kidney affect my life?

A: Your one remaining kidney will take over and grow in order to compensate for and function almost as well as your original two kidneys. You will be able to do almost all the things you could do before your surgery. One exception, however, is the need to avoid activities that risk injuring your remaining kidney, such as contact sports (football, etc.).

Q: What are the risks of donation?

A: One out of every 10 living donors may experience a minor problem, such as a urinary tract infection. There are usually no long-term complications. However, any kind of surgery, even some of the tests used in the donor evaluation, pose some degree of risk. The surgeons/coordinators will discuss the risks with you before the evaluation begins and again before surgery.

Q: Where is the incision made for the open nephrectomy?

A: Most surgeons use a side or lower back incision (see illustration on page 10). You may discuss this with the doctor before the operation.

Q: Who pays for my work-up?

A: Typically, the recipient’s insurance or Medicare will pay for your work-up, surgery, and hospitalization costs.

Q: How soon can I eat or drink after surgery?

A: You will be on IV fluid for a few days. As soon as you pass gas or have a bowel movement, you may start taking liquids. If you tolerate the liquids with no nausea or vomiting, your diet will gradually be advanced until you are eating solid foods.

Q: How soon can I start sexual relations?

A: You can resume sexual relations six weeks after you have been discharged from the hospital, depending on how you feel. The donation of a kidney will have no effect on your sex drive or fertility.