Organ donation is when an organ (such as a heart, lung, kidney) is removed from a person and transplanted into another person.
Tissue donation is when tissues in the body (such as skin, corneas, bone) are removed from a person and transplanted into another person.
Living organ donation is when the organ donor is alive and donating the organ will not harm them. Examples of living donation are a brother who gives one of his kidneys to his sister or a mother who gives part of her liver to her child. Learn more about living organ donation.
In Canada, there is no cost to the donor or their family for organ and tissue donation. Alberta Health covers all medical expenses.
It is against the law to sell organs or tissues in Canada.
Who can be a donor
Donor organs and tissues must be healthy, and the donor must not have any diseases that could harm the recipient (the person receiving the transplant).
An organ donor is usually a person who dies after a severe brain injury. This often happens because of a motor vehicle accident, bleeding in the brain, or a trauma like a very bad fall.
Organs can only be donated if both of the following are true:
- The person has severe brain damage and is no longer alive.
- The person is being kept on a ventilator (breathing machine) until the organs are removed.
Tissues can be donated after the heart and lungs have stopped working, within 12 to 24 hours after a person dies. The donor does not need to be kept on a ventilator.
Almost anyone can be an eye donor. Blood type does not have to match, and it does not matter if the potential donor has good eyesight.
The criteria for organ and tissue donation can change. The reasons a person can't donate are often related to illness or medical or social history.
Learn more about becoming a donor.
What can be donated?
If you want to be a donor, you can choose what you donate.
Organs
- heart
- lungs
- liver
- kidney
- pancreas
- pancreas islet cells
- small bowel
- stomach
Tissues
- cornea
- sclera (white of the eye)
- heart valves
- skin
- bone
- tendons
- amniotic tissue
Donating your body to science
You can also choose to donate your entire body for medical education or scientific research. This is often called donating your body to science.
If you choose this option, you can't donate any organs or tissue for transplant other than your eyes.
Body donation is managed in universities through an anatomical gift program. Contact the program closest to you for more information:
Facts about Organ and Tissue Donation
- One organ and tissue donor can save up to 8 lives and make life better for up to 75 other people.
- There are over 4,500 people in Canada waiting for a transplant that will save their life. Even more people are waiting for tissue transplants that will make their quality of life better.
- There are over 700 people in Alberta on transplant waitlists.
- Only 1% to 2% of people who die can be considered for organ donation.
- Most people can be considered for tissue donation.
