Can a living 12 year old donate liver?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, living liver donation from pediatric donors (under the age of 18) is generally not recommended. The main ethical concern is the potential risk to the child's health and well-being.

Donating a portion of the liver for transplant involves major surgery,

which carries inherent risks such as complications

during the surgery, bleeding, infections, and long-term health issues.

Additionally, the child's liver may not be fully

developed and functional, which could affect their

ability to regenerate the donated portion.

Therefore, living liver donation from minors is usually restricted to exceptional circumstances, such as when there is no suitable adult donor available and the potential benefits outweigh the risks for the child.

In such cases, strict ethical criteria and regulations are applied to ensure the child's safety and best interests are protected.