Types of organ donation

• Brain-dead donation = End-of-life donation
• Brain-dead donation refers to those who are on the verge of brain death or dying to donate organs or tissues that are still functional to the appropriate patients free of charge. It can help patients with organ failure or with a life-threatening disease to be reborn by obtaining organs donated by others.
• Living-donor transplant
• Living donor transplantation is when a healthy adult removes an organ or part of an organ from his body and gives it to another person.
• According to the law, the recipient should be restricted to no more than a fifth-degree of kinship (e.g., parents, children, and siblings), or the spouse of the donor.
• Living-donor transplant generally refers to kidney and liver transplantation. The donor donates one side of the kidney or part of the liver, the body can still function normally, and the remaining liver will regenerate and return to its original size, so there will be no impact on the health of the donor.

Organ donation Q&A

Q1. Who can donate organs?

1. Those who met brain death conditions and have a normal organ function.
2. Those who have no history of a malignant tumor (except brain   tumor).
3. Those who have no history of AIDS.
4. Those who have no significant sepsis.
5. Those who have no prolonged (for more than 15 minutes) hypotension, shock, or absence of heartbeat.

Q2. Can patients in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) donate organs?

PVS patients suffer from encephalopathy caused by brain disease associated with other systems, resulting in loss of general brain function, but brainstem function still exists. Such patients cannot think, remember, recognize, act, or speak, but they can still breathe spontaneously, and their heart still beats, so PVS patients cannot donate organs. However, PVS patients can donate tissues (skeleton, skin, cornea, tendon, heart valve) if doctors evaluate their tissues in good condition before they die.

Q3. Who are the recipients of donated organs?

The donated organs will be given to patients whose organs have lost their original function and have reached the point of failure that cannot be improved by medical treatment.

Q4. What are the differences in or effects on the appearance following organ donation?

Organ extraction is based on strict surgical criteria as if you were undergoing any surgical operation in the hospital. After the procedure, the doctor will carefully suture the incision and maintain the appearance.

Q5. Why is the presence of a prosecutor required for brain death certification?

In case of accidental death, homicide, suicide, or suspicion of the cause of death, in addition to obtaining the written consent of the family members, the donor organ can be removed only with the examination and approval of the prosecutor. Therefore, the prosecutor should be asked for an examination of the second brain death certification.

Organ transplant consultation

• Organ Transplantation Center Tel: (04) 22052121 ext. 12981
• Critical Care Center Building 1F Tel: (04) 22052121 ext. 15116
• Lifu Medical Building 1F Tel: (04) 22052121 ext. 13116