Human Organ Donation Facts

Organ and tissue donation is the process of placing an organ or tissue from a donor into a recipient's body. There are many types of organ donation, which can treat a variety of conditions.

History

• The first transplant in the United States occurred in 1954, when a man donated a kidney to his identical twin.

Types

• Donors can give entire organs, such as kidneys, or parts of regenerative organs, such as livers. Tissue, including blood, blood stem cells and marrow, also can be donated.

Donors

• Almost anyone can donate organs. Organs and tissue also can be taken from people who are dead.

Status

• There are more people who need transplants than there are donors. In the United States, the candidate waiting list increases by about 3,700 people each month.

Impact

• It has been estimated that every person could help up to 50 people by donating organs and tissue.