Facts about organ donation

GET THE FACTS ABOUT ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION

SIGNING UP TO BE A DONOR WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR MEDICAL CARE

Your commitment to donation will not interfere with your medical care. Donation is only an option after all life-saving efforts have been made and death has been declared.

ORGANS ARE NOT FOR SALE

It is illegal to buy or sell human organs and tissue for transplant in the United States (Public Law 98-507). To ensure that organs are given to the neediest recipients, federal agencies enforce strict guidelines that regulate the organ distribution process.

WHO CAN BE A DONOR

Almost anyone from birth and beyond can be an organ donor and/or tissue donor. Individuals with medical problems, such as diabetes, hepatitis, cancer, asthma or any other illness, may be able to donate and should sign up as donors. A medical evaluation at the time of death will determine what organs and/or tissue can be donated.

DONATION COSTS NOTHING

There is no cost to the donor or donor's family for donation. The donor family pays only for medical expenses incurred before death and for funeral expenses. If a family believes they were billed incorrectly by the hospital, they should notify NMDS right away (info@donatelifenm.org).

RELIGIONS SUPPORT DONATION

All major religions in the U.S. support your right to help others and consider donation an unselfish act of charity.
Learn more about religious views on donation.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS AFTER DONATION

Donation should not change or delay funeral arrangements.
An open casket funeral is possible.

FAIR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Organs are distributed to waiting recipients through the national organ transplant list maintained by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) based on medical factors such as blood type, size and tissue match. It is illegal to distribute organs based on wealth or celebrity status.

Tissue is distributed based on patient need, medical criteria and availability.