Being an organ and tissue donor means being a generous person. Donating is one of the most altruistic acts that a person can do for other people.
Think big: 1 = 8 + 100! A single donor could save the lives of up to eight people through the transplantation of their organs and improve the quality of life for another 100 people through the transplantation of their tissues.
How do you become a donor?
When a person considers the possibility of becoming a donor and decides to donate their organs and tissues in order to have them transplanted to help other people, the first and most important thing they must do is share their decision with their family and close friends. They will be the first people who will be consulted about the possibility of donation after death, with the expectation that they will respect the wishes of the donor.
It is also possible to prove or record your wish to become a donor through different options:
- the donor card
- indicate it in "La Meva Salut"
- record it in your advance directives document
Regardless of the legal validity of these options, the family of the potential donor must consent to the donation in the end.
The donor card is a symbolic item that helps to demonstrate a donor's wish to donate organs or tissues at the time of their death
TOPWhat happens if I don't make a decision?
In the event that a person dies and has not made their choice to become a donor explicit, the decision to donate is made by their family.
At the time of death, during the period of mourning, it's hard to find time to decide whether the person wanted to be a donor or not, and perhaps the family does not feel capable of making this decision. Therefore, it is important to have discussed it beforehand.
It is essential to talk with your family and closest circle of friends about organ donation and to free your family from the weight of this decision so they do not have to decide while in deep mourning and wonder about the wishes of the deceased.
Becoming a donor is as easy as making the decision and letting your family and closest friends know about it. Become a donor and encourage the people with whom you're closest to do so too. The more donors there are, the more lives that can be saved.
Who can be a donor?
We can all be donors!
The clinical conditions at the time of death are what will determine the organs and tissues that are viable for transplantation. Regarding minors and disabled individuals, the wishes of the people holding legal guardianship must be respected.
There is no age limit for being a donor!
However, a required condition is for brain death to occur in the hospital or in a mobile ICU in order to conduct all tests and properly preserve the organs.
The oldest donor in Catalonia was 92 years old. Thanks to him, a kidney transplant was possible.
What can be donated?
The following organs, tissues, and cells may be donated:
- Organs: Kidney, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and intestines.
- Tissues and cells: Umbilical cord, bone marrow, peripheral blood, amniotic membrane, and tissues and cells for advanced therapies.
Other donations can also be made, such as blood, eggs and sperm, brain or body to science, and breast milk.
The amount of organs and tissues that can be obtained from a single person is extraordinary!
Why become a donor?
The transplantation of human organs and tissues is often the only alternative to remain alive for many patients. With technical and scientific advances, the number of people who can benefit from a transplant increases daily thanks to the generosity of those who have lost their lives and their families.
Donating organs and tissues is a voluntary, altruistic, supportive, generous, confidential, free, and non-profit action. It is a selfless act in which a person decides, while still alive, to donate their organs and tissues after death in order to be transplanted to people who need them.
Sometimes, you can even donate an organ while alive. In this case, living donors are generally family members or people who are very close to the recipient who decide to benevolently donate an organ (a kidney) or part of one (a lobe of the liver) to them.
Personal stories
-
Pau’s story (Opens in new window)
To you, Pau, who died just like you lived: with life as a gift
-
Olga's story (Opens in new window)
"At the age of 36 I had an emergency transplantation"
-
Mar's story (Opens in new window)
"I'm celebrating my 18th birthday again today!"
Living donations
In accordance with current regulations that establish and regulate this possibility, living donations are limited to situations in which a high likelihood of success for the transplantation can be expected.
In principle, any adult or healthy individual can be a living donor, but one must remember that this situation also entails a series of risks like any surgical operation. A kidney or part of the liver can be transplanted from a living donor.
A living donation is between family members or people with close emotional bonds and is usually suggested by a medical team, which will determine (after assessing various factors) a certain donor for the recipient.
Information about donations
The Catalan Transplant Organisation (OCATT) is responsible for the collection, processing, and use of data related to the donation and transplantation process. Follow-up data are also compiled and used from patients who have received a transplant and from people who have donated a kidney or part of their liver.