Organ Transplant

Organ Transplant is when an organ is taken from one person through surgery and then placed into another person whose own organ has failed because of illness or injury. It is usually a treatment of last resort. Both complete organs, as well as tissues, can be transplanted. The heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and intestine are organs that can be transplanted.

Who is a candidate for transplant? The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) matches donated organs with critically ill patients on the national waiting list. Medical urgency and compatibility between donor and recipient, plus location, are the main criteria for choosing the recipient of a transplant. Social and celebrity status are not factors. Under a national act, organs cannot be sold or bought and must be distributed fairly.

Where do donated organs come from? Most of them come from people who have died. But one kidney and parts of the liver can sometimes be taken from living donors, usually close family members of the recipient. Donated organs are offered first to those within the same geographic region who are on the national transplant waiting list.

How do I become a donor? If you are age 18 or older, you can become a donor simply by signing a donor card and by telling your family members and loved ones. You can also indicate your donor status by placing a sticker, obtained through the Department of Motor Vehicles, on your driver's license.

Information for the Recipient

If you’re a transplant recipient, your doctor can help you get on the national waiting list. Part of getting on the list involves visiting a transplant hospital. At the hospital, a doctor will evaluate your medical history and current condition and then decide if you meet the criteria to be put on the list for transplant. You can get on the waiting list at more than one hospital, although that may or may not increase your chances of getting a transplant. Your name is placed in a pool, and when an organ in your area becomes available, your need will be compared with the other people in this pool. The transplant is offered first to the patient that is the best match.

California Pacific Medical Center’s transplant centers provides a host of continued health and medical services, including telemedicine and are available at a number of off-site locations.