Quick Facts About Organ & Tissue Donation

More than 200,000 people are currently waiting for some type of organ or tissue transplant.
Organ donors are in good health but have died suddenly, possibly through accidents, and are declared “brain dead” in a hospital.
An estimated 24,000 people are declared “brain dead” each year. Of those, 14-17% will become donors.
Only 2-3% of all deaths meet the criteria for organ donation.
Tissue donors are in good health but have died a “biological death”. In this condition, the person’s heart and lungs have permanently ceased.
Last year there were about 20,000 tissue donors.
It is vitally important that individuals who wish to be organ/tissue donors inform their family about their decision so their wishes may be honored.
Under federal law hospitals must offer the option of organ/tissue donation to the families of potential organ/tissue donors.
Organ/tissue donation does not interfere with customary funeral practices and an open casket is permissible. Prosthetic devices replace donated bone or corneas and clothing covers any incisions.
There is no charge to the family for donation of organs and tissues. Burial costs remain the family’s responsibility.
Most religions endorse organ and tissue donation as a worthy charitable act.
Studies have found that donation of organs and tissues of loved ones who have died helps shorten the time needed by members of a family to recover from their death.

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