Did you know that only about 1% of people who register as organ, eye and tissue donors are eligible to donate their organs at the time of death? In other words, the majority of people who are selfless enough to register as organ donors will never be able to donate organs (although tissue and cornea donation is always still a possibility). That’s because a very specific set of criteria must be met for organ donation to take place.
Why is organ donation so rare?
Two important things must be true in for a deceased patient to be considered for organ donation.
The deceased person must:
- Pass away in a hospital on ventilated support
- Experience brain death or a non-survivable injury
Generally, people who pass away at home, or anywhere outside a hospital are not eligible to donate organs. As a result, very few donors are able to donate, and the need to build a much larger base of registered donors is incredibly urgent. (It’s important to note that the criteria for tissue and eye donation is different.)
What do the terms “brain death” and “circulatory death” really mean?
Brain death: This is a rare event that happens roughly once in 200 hospital deaths. Brain death results from swelling in the brain, which causes blood flow in the brain to stop. Without blood to oxygenate the cells, the tissue dies, and there is no way to reverse this situation. Brain function has stopped at this point, and the person is considered clinically and legally dead. This is tested and confirmed by doctors, even though the patient’s heart may still be beating with the help of ventilated support. Keeping the person on a ventilator until the organs are recovered allows them to remain viable for transplantation.
Circulatory Death: Also known as cardiac death, this occurs when the heart stops beating. Blood stops circulating, and oxygen is no longer being delivered to the body's organs. After circulatory death in a hospital setting, timely organ recovery is critical if they are to be used for transplantation, as organs begin to deteriorate quickly due to the lack of oxygen.
Many more people are eligible to donate tissue and corneas
The criteria for tissue and cornea donation differs from the criteria for organ donation, and generally more people are eligible to donate tissue and corneas. Tissue and cornea donations typically do not require the donor to be on ventilated support at the time of death.
In addition, even people who are ineligible to donate organs because of their health history can usually donate tissues and corneas. In fact, almost everyone can donate their corneas. Which is good news, because the need for these gifts is great. In fact, roughly 2.5 million tissue transplants are performed each year, saving and healing lives from many life-threatening medical conditions, including patients with severe burn injuries, torn ligaments or tendons, or repairing structures such as skin and spinal components.
Tissues that can be donated and used in many surgical applications include tendons, heart valves, veins, skin, musculoskeletal tissue, nerves, and corneas. Donated tissues can dramatically improve the quality of life for recipients, and one tissue donor can restore health and provide healing to more than 75 people. Unlike organs, donated tissues can be stored for an extended period of time.
Donation numbers illustrate the need for more registered donors
These figures, provided by Donate Life America, shed light on the vast need for lifesaving organ transplants in the United States.
- More than 100,000 adults and children are on the national transplant waiting list
- In 2023, 23,288 donors brought life to recipients and their families
- Every eight minutes another person is added to the transplant waiting list
- Every organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance over 75 more through cornea and tissue donation
Only a fraction of those who register to become organ donors will actually donate organs. This stark reality highlights the importance of working together to increase the number of eligible donors.
Passing on the gift of life and being someone’s hero is as easy as registering as an organ, eye, and tissue donor. Learn more here about registering to become an organ donor and supporting the critical mission of Mid-America Transplant. When you sign up for the donor registry, you increase the chance that patients waiting will get the transplants they need to survive.
Also please consider talking to friends and family about organ donation, so together we can increase the number of those who will leave love and hope as their final legacy.