Eight of the major organs can be transplanted, along with faces and hands, corneas and tissues such as bones, bone marrow, skin, and heart valves.
Fact: A national computer system and strict standards are in place to ensure ethical and fair distribution of organs. Organs are matched by blood and tissue typing, organ size, medical urgency, waiting time and geographic location.
Fact: People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential donors. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissue can be donated.
Fact: Organs and tissue that can be donated include: heart, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, corneas, skin, tendons, bone, nerve and heart valves.
Fact: Even if you have indicated your wishes on your driver’s license, state donor registry or the National Donate Life Registry, share your decision with your family so they know your wishes.
Fact: Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most major religions. Learn more >
Fact: An open-casket funeral is possible for organ and tissue donors.
Fact: There is no cost to the donor’s family or estate for organ and tissue donation.
Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ donation can only be considered after brain death has been declared by a physician.
One organ donor can
save up to eight lives. The same donor can also
save or improve the lives of up to 50 people by donating tissues and eyes.
Class aptent More than 120,000 people in the United Statesare waiting for organ transplants.
[Solid Organs: Hearts, kidneys, pancreases, lungs, livers and intestines]. Of these, nearly 10,000 live right here, in the greater New York metropolitan area.
On average, 18 people die every day while waiting for organ transplants in the U.S., and every 10 minutes, another name is added to the waiting list. In New York State, someone dies every 18 hours waiting for an organ transplant.
Each year, more than one million people need lifesaving and life-improving tissues, and eyes.
Tissues: Heart valves, cardiovascular tissue, bone and soft musculoskeletal tissue, and skin.]
31% of New Yorkers age 18 and over have enrolled in the New York State Donate Life Registry as organ. tissue and eye donors. Nationwide, the average is 56%.
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