Organ donor

Organ donation is the process by which an organ or tissue is removed from one person (the donor) and placed into another person (the recipient). This process is typically performed to replace a recipient's damaged or failing organ with a healthy one from the donor.

History

The history of organ donation dates back to the early 20th century, with the first successful kidney transplant taking place in 1954. Since then, advancements in medical technology and surgical techniques have made it possible to transplant a variety of organs, including the heart, lungs, liver, and pancreas.

Types of Organ Donation

There are two main types of organ donation: living donation and deceased donation.

Living donation involves a living person donating a portion of an organ (typically the liver or a kidney) or tissue to another person. This type of donation is usually done between family members or close friends.

Deceased donation, on the other hand, involves the donation of organs or tissues after a person has died. This is the most common type of organ donation.

Organ Donor Registration

In many countries, individuals can register to become organ donors. This is typically done through a national registry, such as the Organ Donor Register in the UK or the Donate Life America registry in the US.

Ethical and Legal Considerations

There are many ethical and legal considerations surrounding organ donation. These include issues of consent, the definition of death, and the allocation of organs.

See Also

• Transplantation
• Organ transplantation
• Organ trafficking
• Organ transplant waiting lists