Living Donor Qualifications
While many people are willing to be living donors, not everyone has the qualities necessary to participate in living donation. Donors must be chosen carefully in order to avoid outcomes that are medically and psychologically unsatisfactory. If you are considering being a living organ donor, it’s important to educate yourself about the donation process, required testing, financial considerations, risks and recovery.
At a minimum, all potential living donors must be genuinely willing to donate, physically fit, in good general health, and free from high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease and heart disease. Individuals considered for living donation are usually between 18-60 years of age. Gender and race are not factors in determining a successful match. The living donor must first undergo a blood test to determine blood type compatibility with the recipient. If the donor and recipient have compatible blood types, the donor undergoes a medical history review and a complete physical examination.
Making the decision
The decision to become a living donor involves careful consideration and is a completely voluntary one. If you are considering being a living organ donor, it’s important to educate yourself about the donation process, required testing, financial considerations, risks and recovery. It is also important to know that you may change your mind at any time during the process. Your decision and reasons are kept confidential.
At Crozer Health, an independent third party, called a “Living Donor Advocate,” can help you explore your interest in, and feelings about, being a living donor and to help you assess your emotional and financial preparedness for living donation. Living Donor Advocates are not on The Kidney Transplant Program Staff and are therefore in a unique position to be more objective about and supportive of you as a living donor. They are also very skilled and have extensive knowledge about living donation, transplantation, medical ethics and informed consent.
For Additional Information
If you have a question about Living Donor transplants at Crozer Health, email kidney@crozer.org or call 610-619-8420.