Organ Donation
Livers for transplantation come from either a deceased or living donor. Most donated livers in the United States come from deceased donors, often victims of severe, accident-related head injury that results in brain death. Brain death is an irreversible condition that occurs when the brain dies due to trauma and loss of blood flow to the brain. These individuals may have arranged in advance to be an organ donor, or their family grants permission for organ donation when doctors indicate that their loved one has suffered brain death.
Resources
Where can I get additional information?
The following is a list of useful websites where you can find more information about liver disease, living donation, and organ transplantation:
American Transplant Foundation
Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA)
National Foundation for Transplants (NFT)
National Living Donor Assistance Center
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)
Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO)
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
US Department of Health and Human Services
In addition, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has a toll-free patient services hotline. Call 1-888-894-6361 to:
- Discuss your questions and concerns.
- Find a hospital that does living donor liver transplants in your area.
- Learn more about donation and transplantation policies and data.
Last updated on August 17th, 2023 at 01:54 pm