Becoming a living liver donor
What is the living donation process like?
The living donation process includes:
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Donor screening
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Donor evaluation
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Donor surgery
These steps are described below.
Donor screening
The first step is to contact a transplant center, which is a healthcare facility dedicated to transplant care:
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If you’re trying to donate to someone you know, you’ll reach out to the center where they are on the waitlist.
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If you don’t have a specific person you’d like to donate to, you can begin
the process at any transplant center.
Here is what happens when you contact a transplant center:
1
A living donor staff member will briefly explain the donation process and ask if you agree to give some information about your health – this is called your consent. Your consent begins the process.
2
They will then ask you screening questions about your health either by an online form or over the phone.
3
The transplant team will consider your answers, and things like certain health issues you have, to decide if you can continue to the next step, called donor evaluation. Transplant centers have different criteria for certain health issues and their risks to donors, so even if you have some minor health issues, it may be possible to donate. Transplant staff will explain their decision to you.