The miracle of organ and tissue transplantation, each year, saves or greatly improves the lives of thousands of men, women and children. In fact, transplantation is one of modern medicine’s triumphs. The true heroes, the miracle makers, are the donors who give the Gift of Life. Thanks to their commitment to say "yes", donors and their families help organ and tissue recipients return to active, productive lives.

On behalf of the thousands who continue to wait, thanks for your commitment to learn the facts about giving the "Gift of Life".

The need is critical. Every three hours, someone in this country dies because of the shortage of donor organs. Every 18 minutes another person’s name is added to the list of thousands who await lifesaving organ transplants. Thousands more await life enhancing tissue transplants. 

You can help. You can help resolve this national health crisis by doing three thigs. First, learn the facts about donation. Second, make a personal decision about donation. Third, tell your family your decision.

Although living related organ donation is an option, this occurs in only in a very small percentage of actual transplants. It usually involves the transplantation of one kidney from a healthy relative to another relative who is suffering from renal disease. The transplantation of a portion of a healthy liver or lung has also been very successful.

The majority of organ donation occurs after a catastrophic event that leaves the potential organ donor without any brain function. The term for this is "brain death". Occasionally, after a major stroke or massive head injury, a person’s heart can continue to beat with the assistance of a ventilator, or breathing machine. Without the assistance of the ventilator, a person who has suffered brain death can not breath and the heart would undoubtedly stop beating. Because brain death is legally recognized as death, physicians will usually inform families that the ventilator must be discontinued. Prior to discontinuing the ventilator, the family is informed of their option to donate organs.

The process of organ donation may take longer than eight hours and include: 

evaluation of the potential organ donor. Currently, patients with metastatic cancer or HIV infection are not considered candidates for organ donation. obtaining consent from next-of-kin evaluating organ suitability and function by means of blood tests or ultrasound maintaining oxygenation and circulation to the vital organs locating recipients through the UNOS waiting list coordinating the surgical procedure to remove donated organs follow up information provided to next-of-kin regarding the outcome of their gifts.

The surgical procedure requires a midline incision through the chest and abdomen. The incision is sutured closed after surgery. The body is always treated with respect.

Organ donation and recovery is performed at no expense to the donor’s estate or to the donor hospital. Direct payment to donor hospitals for charges incurred as a result of donor evaluation, donor maintenance and the recovery of organs is reimbursable by SCOPC. Two basic principles govern the determination of acceptable donor charges:

The patient must have been accepted by SCOPC as a potential donor prior to the charge being incurred. The charge must be related specifically to the donor evaluation, donor maintenance, or the recovery surgery and would not otherwise have been incurred in the treatment of the patient.

These are very specific, because federal law prohibits the 

Organs that can be transplanted include heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestine. The lungs, liver, and kidneys can be shared between two recipients, potentially doubling the number of lives that can be saved.