Questions & Answers on Organ, Eye & Tissue Donation

Q. What is the Donor Registry?

A. The Donor Registry is a secure and confidential state-wide database listing everyone who has indicated their wish to be an organ, eye and tissue donor. The donor database is accessible only to authorized employees of organ, eye and tissue procurement agencies.

Q. Will my medical care be affected if people know I am a donor?

A. Never! Your health care providers will make all efforts to save your life. An entirely separate team of health care professionals handle the donation process. Furthermore, organ, eye and tissue recovery happens only after all life-saving efforts have been exhausted and death has been legally declared.

Q. How can I join the Donor Registry?

A. There are 3 ways to designate yourself as a donor: put a donor code on your driver’s license/permit/ID; sign up online at www.donatelifenw.org or, if you have no email address, call 503.494.7888 or 1.800.452.1369 to request a paper donor registration form.

Q. What is the difference between having a donor designation on my driver’s license and signing up online?

A. A driver’s license donor designation is “global” donation, i.e. consent to donate any organs, eyes or tissues suitable for transplant. If a person wishes to specify what they wish to donate and for what purposes, they can register online or on a paper form. For registrants under 18, the consent of a parent or legal guardian is required for the individual to actually be a donor.

Q. Who may sign up on the Donor Registry?

A. Oregonians at least 15 years old can put a donor designation code on their driver’s license/permit/ID. Oregonians age 13 years and older, can sign up online.

Q. Is my information in the Donor Registry secure?

A. Yes. All personal information is kept confidential, because Oregon law prohibits the donor registry information from being sold or shared with any company or government agency. Your information is stored in a secure database, accessible only to authorized organ, eye and tissue recovery personnel.

Q. What if I change my mind?

A. Those who sign up online may take their name out of the Donor Registry, alter personal information or change donation preferences anytime.

Q. Is there anyone who is not allowed to donate?

A. Do not rule yourself out due to age or health! People of all ages and medical histories – even those with diabetes, cancer, or hepatitis C – should consider themselves potential organ donors. The circumstances of death and your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissue can be donated. Each case is evaluated individually.

Q. What organs and tissues can I donate?

A. *Heart * Liver * Small Intestine * Kidneys * Lungs * Pancreas * Bone * Eyes/Corneas * Skin * Heart Valves & Associated Cardiovascular Tissue * Connective Tissues

Q. Do I have to die to save lives through donation?

A. No. While you are living you can donate a kidney, or part of your liver or lung. You also can help by becoming a blood or bone marrow donor.

Q. How does the donation process work?

A. Donors are evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure that their organs and tissues are medically suitable to donate. After this evaluation, organs and tissues receive further testing before they are approved for transplantation.

Q. Is it true that only rich and famous people get organ, eye and tissue transplants?

A. No. Patients are registered with a national computer network that matches donated organs with potential recipients. Criteria such as blood and tissue type, body size, geographic location and medical urgency determine recipients. No one can advance their position on the waiting list based on income, social position or race.

Q. How much will organ and tissue donation cost my family?

A. It costs nothing to donate, and no costs are passed on to a donor’s family or estate.

Q. I don’t know if my religion supports donation.

A. All major religions practiced in the U.S. support donation as a charitable act.

Q. Will organ, eye or tissue donation delay or change funeral plans?

A. No. Donation typically causes no delay or change in funeral arrangements. An open-casket funeral remains an option after donation.

Q. Can I sell my organs or tissues?

A. It is against federal law to receive or offer money for human organs or tissues.

Q. Can my organs be used if I die at home?

A. No. Organs can be donated only by individuals who have been declared brain dead, or in some cases, seriously brain-injured patients can donate organs after cardiac death. However, tissue and eye donation can occur when someone dies at home. Your family needs to tell the medical personnel and funeral home of the desire to donate.

Q. Can I be an organ and tissue donor and also donate my body to science?

A. If you are an organ and tissue donor, the medical school will not accept the whole body donation. You can be an eye donor and still donate your body to science. Whole body donation should be arranged in advance by completing additional forms.

Q. Can my family go against my wishes to be an organ, eye and tissue donor?

A. In some circumstances, yes. If the deceased person is under 18 years old, the legal next of kin assumes responsibility for the decision to donate. Therefore, it is very important to discuss your wishes with your family.