Organ donation is the process of surgically removing an organ or tissue from one person and placing it into another.
Organs used for transplantation can come from either a deceased donor or a living donor.
When you register to become a potential organ donor, you register with your province to become a DECEASED donor, meaning you pass your organs on after you die. In Canada, the chances of a potential organ donor becoming an actual organ donor are very low. In fact, a Canadian is five to six times more likely to need an organ transplant than they are to become an actual organ donor.
In order to be a deceased organ donor in most parts of Canada, a person need to be:
To illustrate how important it is for all Canadians to register as potential donors, consider this: in 2015, of the approximately 267,000 deaths occurring in Canada, only about 150,000, or 56%, happened in a hospital. Of the 150,000 deaths that happened in a hospital, only about 5,000, or 3%, fulfilled the criteria to be a potential organ donor (ventilator & brain dead). Of these 5,000 potential organ donors, only about 650, or 13%, went on to be actual organ donors. Those 650 donors resulted in about 1,995 transplants. To end the waiting list, we need to make sure that all potential organ donors become actual organ donors. That’s why it is so important to register as an organ donor.
There are two types of donation after death:
Depending on the patient’s medical history and type of death, a deceased donor can donate up to eight (8) organs for transplant:
The US Department of Health & Human Services has created a great overview of the organ donation process. Please click here to view: https://www.organdonor.gov/about/process.html
Although our numbers are lower due to our smaller population, the process of organ donation in Canada is extremely similar, although Canada still lacks a National Organ Donor Registry. In Canada, there are nine organ donation or procurement organizations that manage the process of registration, donation and transplantation for Canadians:
Organ donation from a LIVING donor most often occurs when a deceased donor cannot be found in time. Living donors can potentially donate:
In most cases, a living donor will donate their organ, or a part of their organ, to help save the life of a loved one or close friend.
In Canada, if an eligible donor and a patient requiring a kidney transplant are NOT an appropriate clinical match, the Kidney Paired Donation Program (KPD) makes it possible for the donor and patient to be paired with other non-matched pairs(donor-recipient) in Canada in what is essentially a chain-reaction of kidney transplants. Since its inception in 2009, more than 500 living donors across Canada have participated. For more information on the Kidney Paired Donation Program, please visit : https://blood.ca/en/media/backgrounder-kidney-paired-donation-program
Anyone in Canada over the age of 18 can help save a life! Parental permission for the deceased is required if the patient was under 18 years old.
Yes! There are 8 major organs that can be transplanted so even if you have a condition that affects one, you may still be able to save a life. The only people who cannot be a donor are those suffering from HIV or a system-wide infection or illness.
Each province has their own registry databases for organ donation. Click here to find the registry for your province. In most provinces all you need is your health card number to register.
You can take a look at our page here for full details on what you can expect after your register, but the first and most important step is to talk to your friends and family about your decision. They will be the ones to ensure that your wishes are carried out when the time comes.
By registering with your province you have authorized medical professionals to use your organs for transplant in a patient in need of a donation, if you die in a way that makes them viable for the transplant. Typically this means in a hospital, on life-support, and after brain-death.
The organs that can be transplanted are the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, small intestines, eyes, bone, skin, and heart valves.
Head over to http://www.beadonor.ca/ and pick “Check now!” Be sure to have your provincial health card handy to verify your identity.
No - there will be no cost to your family for giving the gift of life. They are, however, still responsible for any funeral costs that would normally occur after death.
Absolutely. Any surgical incisions or removal of skin is done in areas that normal clothing will cover.