FAQs ABOUT DONATION

Following are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

The FAQs are presented in the following categories:

    • Who can sign up on the Donate Life California Registry?
      The Donate Life California Registry allows Californians who are at least 18 years of age to register their authorization to donate specific or all organs and tissues upon their death. Children between the ages of 13 and 17 can join the Donate Life California Registry; however, until the designated donor is 18 years old, the parents or legal guardian will make the final decision about organ and tissue donation at the appropriate time.
    • Can my family override my decision to donate?
      Once you sign up with the Donate Life California Registry, your donor designation grants authorization for organ and tissue recovery. Should you be in the position to donate, your next of kin will be presented with documentation of your registration but will not have the power to override your decision.
    • Why register? Isn’t it enough to have a donor card or pink dot on my driver license?
      Prior to July 1st of 2006, there was no official list or record of people who applied pink “DONOR” dot stickers to their licenses or ID cards. Now, the DMV’s driver license and ID card application and renewal forms include the question: "Do you wish to register to be an organ and tissue donor?" Checking YES on the form automatically enrolls the applicant in the Donate Life California Registry, and the pink "DONOR" dot symbol is now pre-printed on the applicant’s driver license or ID card.

      A signed and witnessed donor card does grant authorization for organ and/or tissue recovery, but due to the suddenness and emotion surrounding the circumstances, a donor card is rarely available at the time a family is approached regarding donation. Without documentation of a loved one's wishes, families often decline to authorize donation. By signing up with the Donate Life California Registry, through the DMV (after July 1st of 2006) or online, your desire to donate is stored in a secure, confidential database. Should your death result in the opportunity for you to be a donor, an official record of your donor designation will be readily available and cannot be overturned by your family. Thus, should you be medically suitable to donate, your wishes will be respected and your family will be relieved of the burden of making a decision on your behalf.
    • Does my age, pre-existing medical condition, or sexual orientation prevent me from being a donor?
      Do not rule yourself out. The fact that you want to be a donor is something to be celebrated, and we encourage you to register your decision with pride. Age, most medical conditions or sexual orientation do not exclude you from being a suitable organ and tissue donor. (In fact, there has been a 93-year-old kidney donor and a 99-year-old cornea donor!) There are very few automatic rule-outs, and due to medical advancements, even some of these may change over time. In the event you are in a position to be an actual donor, medical specialists will evaluate your medical history to determine your suitability to donate. If you wish to be a donor, sign up!
    • Can I sign up my children?
      Due to federal privacy laws prohibiting the collection of personal information for individuals under age 13, the Donate Life California Registry is unable to accept registrations for children 12 and under. Until registrants and non-registrants alike are 18 years old, their parents (or legal guardians) will make the final decision about organ and tissue donation at the appropriate time.
    • How do you ensure that someone does not sign up another person without his or her knowledge or consent?
      Of the 40+ state donor registries now in operation, to date there have been no reported problems with persons registering people other than themselves. The authenticity of the registrant can be determined using the confirmation email address, the date/time of the registration, and personal information requested during the signup process. Family members are also consulted at the time of donation and will be able to verify the donor’s information at that time.
    • During the signup process, I am asked whether I am participating in a “Challenge.” What does this mean?
      In an effort to spur registration, the Donate Life California Registry management team has established “challenges” among and between hospitals, universities, sports teams and cities. You may sign up on behalf of any of the challenge participants on the first page of the signup.
    • Does the registry allow me to sign up to be a marrow or living organ donor?
      We are pleased to include on the registry links to information about blood, marrow and living kidney donation here
    • Does my registration grant consent for whole body donation?
      Signing up with Donate Life California does not grant permission for your body to be donated to medical schools. Organ and tissue donation for transplant or research is not the same as willed body donation. Willed whole body programs are usually associated with teaching hospitals at major universities, and arrangements must be made in advance directly with the institutions. Please note: should you choose to consent to whole body donation, you will be unable to donate your organs or tissues for transplant.
    • I have an advance directive authorizing donation of my organs. Should I also register with the Donate Life California Registry, or will the advance directive be enough?
      In California, signing up on the Donate Life California Registry is the only way to fully ensure that your wishes to donate are honored. Due to the rapid and emotional nature of events surrounding sudden death, often times families do not have time to check legal documents prior to being approached about donation. However, since the Donate Life California Registry is viewed in all potential donation cases prior to approaching the family, we are able to share proof of registration with family members at the time donation is discussed with them. Each state has its own laws regarding consent for organ donation. Some states have registries while others rely on donor cards or advance directives. If consent is not given through either of these means, all states defer to next-of-kin to make the donation decision on behalf of their loved one.
    • Is it possible to restrict my donation from prisoners or other groups?
      Federal law does not allow you to restrict your donation to or from specific classes of individuals. By checking the “Donation Limitations” box on the first signup page, the subsequent page allows you to opt out of donating specific organs and/or tissues or having your organs and/or tissues donated for research. If it is any assurance, we are aware of only two instances of inmates receiving transplants, and we are also aware of at least one death row inmate who became a donor.
    • How do people in other states sign up? Is there a national registry?
      Registrations from out-of-state residents are accepted on the Donate Life California Registry and serve as an advance directive in accordance with California state law in the event one’s death occurs in this state. There is no national registry. All matters concerning organ and tissue donation are under the jurisdiction of each state’s respective laws. For information on how to become a donor in other states, go to www.donatelife.net and click on the state in question.
    • What if I don’t have an email account or access to a computer?
      If you do not have an email account, you can get a free email account by visiting http://www.hotmail.com or you may also use the email address of a relative. If you do not have access to your own computer, you may sign up at your neighborhood library.
    • I don’t want to sign up online. Is there any other way to register?
      In addition to online registrations, you may sign up with the Donate Life California Registry when you apply for or renew your driver license or ID card through the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you are unable to sign up online or via the DMV, you may sign a donor card to indicate your wishes. However, you should share your decision with your next of kin in case the donor card is not available at the time you become a candidate to actually donate.
    • How do I print my registration card?
      The screen that confirms your registration displays your unique Registration ID and Password. It also includes a donor card that can be cut out and placed in your wallet. It is not necessary to carry a donor card, as you are registered in the Donate Life California database. At any time, you may return to the registry website, click on Update My Donor Profile, enter your login information, then print the confirmation screen.
    • What do I do if I’ve lost my Registration ID number and/or my password?
      Please contact a Donate Life California Registry administrator at info@donateLIFEcalifornia.org. Also, you may sign up again with your most current information and your most recent registration record will be used in the event that you are a potential donor. However, it is recommended that you keep your Registration ID and password in a safe place for making updates.
    • How do I make changes to my registration?
      If you sign up online, the screen that confirms your registration displays your unique Registration ID and Password. If you sign up at the DMV, your driver license number acts as your Registration ID number. At any time, you may visit the registry website, click on Update My Donor Profile, enter your login information, then change your password, personal information, specify donation limitations or remove your name from the Donate Life California Registry.
    • I made a mistake on my registration and I am unable to change it when I “Update My Donor Profile”.
      To protect your identity, the Donate Life California Registry will not allow changes to key pieces of personally identifying information, such as your name and date of birth, once you have signed up. You will need to re-register. Having multiple registrations is not a problem. We will simply consider the most recent registration to be the binding one.
    • If something should happen to me while I am traveling, what role does my registration play?
      All matters concerning organ and tissue donation are under the jurisdiction of each state’s or country’s respective laws. While your Donate Life California registration will not serve as legally binding consent for donation outside California, it will serve as a clear indication of your wish to donate and will be shared with your family when they are approached by the local organ recovery agency.
    • How do I cancel my registration if I signed up online?
      If you sign up online, the screen that confirms your registration displays your unique Registration ID and Password. If you sign up via the DMV, your driver license number acts as your Registration ID number. At any time, you may visit the registry website, click on Update My Donor Profile, enter your login information, then check the box to remove your name from the Donate Life California Registry’s list of designated donors.
    • How do I cancel my registration if I signed up via the DMV?
      If you sign up with Donate Life California at the DMV and wish to cancel your registration, you need to take two separate steps to (1) remove your name from the list of designated donors and (2) remove the pink donor dot from your driver license or ID card. First, visit the registry website, click on Update My Donor Profile, enter your login information, then check the box to remove your name from the Donate Life California Registry’s list of designated donors. Until you receive a new driver’s license or identification card, the pink dot will remain on your card –but it is a symbol only and has no bearing on your donor status. The pink dot is never used to identify someone as a legal organ or tissue donor. Verification of donor designation is only done through the Donate Life California Registry database and your name has been removed from the registry’s list of designated donors. It is, however, always important to share with your family and friends your decision about organ donation. If anything does happen to you, your family members will be asked about your wishes. Should you desire to have the pink dot removed from your driver’s license or identification card before it comes up for renewal again, you must contact the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Specifically, you need to make an appointment to replace your driver license or ID card. Please call your local Department of Motor Vehicles at 1-800-777-0133 or visit the DMV website (www.dmv.ca.gov) to set up an appointment. NOTE: If you sign up via the DMV, it can take up to seven business days for your registration information to transfer to the Donate Life California online database. If you try to access your record and it cannot be found, please allow time for the information to transfer. If after seven days you are still unable to access your donor profile, please contact Donate Life California at info@donatelifecalifornia.org.
    • What is organ and tissue donation?
      Organ and tissue donation is the process of recovering organs and tissues from a deceased person and transplanting them into others in order to save or enhance the lives of those in need. Up to eight lives can be saved through organ donation, and another 50 lives may be improved through tissue donation.
    • How many people need donated organs and tissue?
      There are currently more than 19,000 California residents and more than 92,000 people in the U.S. waiting for organ transplants. Each year, approximately 6,000 people die waiting for an organ transplant that would have given them a second chance at life with their families. In addition, each year hundreds of thousands of people benefit from donated tissue that is used for life-saving and reconstructive purposes.
    • What organs and tissues may be donated?
      The most commonly transplanted organs are the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs. In recent years, success has been achieved in curing diabetes with a pancreas transplant or utilizing cells extracted from the pancreas (islet cells) that produce insulin. Although only a small number of intestinal transplants have been performed, this treatment holds great hope for patients whose intestines have been severely damaged through illness, trauma or birth defects. As for tissues: - Skin is used as a temporary dressing for burns, serious abrasions and other exposed areas. - Bone is used in orthopedic surgery to facilitate healing of fractures or prevent amputation. - Heart valves are used to replace defective valves. - Tendons are used to repair torn ligaments on knees or other joints. - Veins are used in cardiac by-pass surgery. - Corneas can restore sight to the blind. - Many tissues that cannot be used for transplant can be recovered and used in a variety of research studies to advance medical science.
    • If I suffer a grave injury, how does the process work?
      If a patient arrives at the hospital with a grave brain injury, the hospital contacts the local organ procurement organization (OPO). While the hospital continues aggressive life-saving efforts, the OPO determines whether the patient is a registered organ and/or tissue donor. This information helps to guide the OPO and the hospital staff regarding how the family should be approached should death be determined imminent for that patient. Only if the patient is medically suitable to donate and after the family has been informed of the patient’s imminent death is the opportunity to donate discussed with the family. After the family has been presented with documentation of the patient’s donor designation – which legally grants authorization to recover organs and/or tissues – or, in cases where there is no registration or donor card present, the family grants authorization, does the process move forward.
    • Who is responsible for managing the organ donation process?
      California's four federally designated, non-profit organ procurement organizations (OPO) are exclusively responsible for facilitating the process, and only OPOs’ authorized staff have access to both the donor and recipient medical information which makes accurate matching possible. Organ recovery and allocation is regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
    • How do you determine who receives the organs?
      Organs are allocated nationally based on a complex medical formula that is established by transplant doctors, public representatives, ethicists, and organ recovery agencies. UNOS (the United Network for Organ Sharing) maintains the list of patients waiting for a transplant. A donor's blood type, tissue type, body weight, and size are matched against patients on the list. If there are multiple matches, priority is given to the sickest patients or, in the case of kidneys, those who have been on the waiting list the longest. Factors such as race, gender, age, income or celebrity status are never considered when determining who receives an organ.
    • How can my organs and tissues be used for research?
      Organs and tissues that are not recovered for transplant may be recovered by the local organ procurement organization (OPO) for pre-approved medical research if the donor (or family, in lieu of a registry record) authorizes such. All research projects are carefully evaluated by each OPO, and only those projects that offer clear medical benefit and are administered by experienced, reputable organizations are approved.
    • What if I don’t want my organs and/or tissues to be used for research?
      Donated organs and tissues may be used for two purposes: transplantation and medical research. The Donate Life California Registry allows you to opt out of donating organs and/or tissues for research. During the signup process, check off the “Donation Limitations” box and check the “For Research” box under both Organs and Tissues. If you have already signed up online or via the DMV, you may go to the registry website, click on Update My Donor Profile, enter your login information, then specify donation limitations. While updating your profile you may also change your password and personal information or remove your name from the Donate Life California Registry.
    • Can I specify which organs and tissues I donate?
      By checking the “Donation Limitations” box on the first signup page, the subsequent page allows you to opt out of donating specific organs and/or tissues or donating for medical research. In addition, you can specify that your donated tissue must be used for life-saving or reconstructive purposes only; distributed only to non-profit organizations; or distributed only in the United States.
    • Can organs be given to people of a different racial group or gender?
      In most cases, race and gender are not factors. However, organ size (which can be affected by gender) is critical to match a donor heart, lung or liver with a recipient. Genetic makeup can be a factor when matching a kidney or pancreas donor and recipient, because of the importance of tissue matching in those two organs. Optimal tissue matching can happen within the same racial and genetic background. For example, an individual of Asian descent may match better with a kidney donated from another Asian versus a different race. However, cross-racial donations can and do happen with great success when matches are available.
    • If a family member is in need of an organ at the time of my death, can I specify that he or she is to receive it?
      So-called “directed donation” of an organ to a specific individual is legal, but it must be done at the time of donation. (Organs may not be directed to a group of individuals.) Directed donation is best supported by an advance directive or may be granted by next of kin at the time of donation. For detailed information on Advance Directives, please visit the California Medical Association website at http://www.cmanet.org/publicdoc.cfm/7#2.
    • If I am registered as a donor, will my medical care be affected?
      Medical and nursing care are not affected in any way by your status as a registered donor. Every attempt is made to save your life. In fact, patients must receive the most aggressive life-saving care in order to be potential organ donors. If a patient’s heart stops during lifesaving efforts, the organs cannot be transplanted.
    • Under what circumstances can a person be an organ donor?
      In almost all cases resulting in organ donation, the patient has suffered a traumatic brain injury and brain death. After all life-saving efforts have been exhausted and it is determined that the patient’s death is imminent, the patient must remain on ventilator support. The reason for this is that the heart and lungs must continue to function after the patient dies so that the transplantable organs continue to function. If the heart stops beating, the organs die and cannot be transplanted. For an in-depth explanation of the role brain death plays in the organ donation process, go to http://www.onelegacy.org/prod/components/myths/braindeath.html
    • Under what circumstances can a person be a tissue donor?
      Virtually all deceased persons, regardless of cause of death, may potentially be tissue donors. Unlike organ donation, it is not necessary for heart and lung function to be maintained on a ventilator. Once a death is reported to the tissue agency, protocols require that the family be contacted within several hours regarding the opportunity to donate. This request comes at a time during the family’s grief, but it is done only in the interest of helping those in need of donated tissue and honoring the wishes of the potential donor.
    • If I am a donor, what kind of tests do they conduct on my body?
      Once death has been declared and authorization is received through the donor registry (or from the family in lieu of a registration), medical professionals must conduct tests to determine whether the patient is suitable to be a donor. Blood tests and other standard medical procedures determine the patient’s blood type, kidney and liver function, exposure to transmittable diseases, and tissue typing for the purpose of matching the kidneys to recipients. These tests are medically necessary in order to save as many lives as possible.
    • I think I may need an organ transplant. How do I get added to the list?
      The process of joining the UNOS National Organ Transplant Waiting List begins with your physician referring you to a transplant center for evaluation. The transplant center will then evaluate you to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for a transplant.
    • Can organs be sold?
      Buying and selling organs for the purpose of transplantation is illegal in the United States. Under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act of 1984, human organs cannot be bought or sold, and violators are subject to fines and imprisonment. This strict regulation prevents any type of "black market" for organs in the United States. Medically speaking, illegal sales are impossible because recovered organs must be appropriately matched to recipients and distributed according to national policy established by United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).
    • Is my family or estate charged for donation?
      No. There is no cost to the donor’s family for organ and tissue donation. Once death has been declared and authorization is confirmed through the donor registry, or from the family in lieu of the registry, all costs associated with organ and/or tissue recovery are assumed by the recovery organizations. Hospital expenses incurred before the donation of organs or tissues in attempt to save the donor’s life and funeral expenses remain the responsibility of the donor’s family.
    • Who pays for donated organs?
      All costs associated with organ recovery are assumed by the recovery organizations. These costs are then reimbursed by transplant centers (who in turn bill private and public insurance plans) and, in the case of kidney transplants.
    • What if my family members are opposed to donation?
      Once an individual has made the decision to be an organ and tissue donor and has joined the Donate Life California Registry, that individual’s decision is honored. Family members cannot override that individual’s decision to donate. At the time when donation is possible, family members will be informed of their loved one's wish to donate and walked through the process so they will know and understand how the recovery agency will carry out the deceased's decision to be a donor. In the event of a loved one’s sudden death, it will ease the family’s pain to already know the wishes of their loved one regarding donation. For this reason we recommend that you share your wishes with your family today.
    • Does my religion allow donation?
      With the lone exception of Shinto, all major religions throughout the world support or permit organ and tissue donation, with most viewing it as a humanitarian act of giving. Transplantation is consistent with the life-preserving traditions of most faiths, and others consider donation a matter of personal choice. Individuals are encouraged to consult their spiritual or religious leader with specific questions.
    • Does donation affect funeral arrangements?
      The body is treated with great respect and dignity throughout the process, and the donor's appearance following donation still allows for an open-casket funeral. Once the organ and/or tissue recovery process is completed, the body is released to the donor’s family. From the time the donation process begins, the entire process is usually completed within 24 to 36 hours, and the family may then proceed with funeral arrangements.
    • Why do you ask for my ethnicity during the signup process?
      We ask for each registrant to identify their ethnicity as a way to monitor our effectiveness at encouraging people from all of California’s diverse communities to sign up with the registry. Organs are allocated anonymously according to medical criteria, such as blood type and size/weight compatibility. Transplant recipients have no control or advance knowledge of the age, race, gender or ethnicity of their deceased donors. Regardless of who the donor is, all transplant recipients are thankful to receive the gift of life.
    • Do the donor and recipient families meet?
      The identity of all parties is kept confidential. The donor family and the transplant recipient may receive such information as age, gender, occupation and state of residence. Individually, the recipient may be told the circumstances of the donor’s death. The donor family may be informed of the transplants that were performed and receive information on improvements to the health of the recipients. The donation agencies facilitate anonymous correspondence and meetings initiated by either the donor family or recipient and agreed to by both parties.
    • Who is responsible for administering the registry?
      The Donate Life California Registry is authorized by the State of California(pursuant to SB 112, Chapter 405, 2003 Statutes and SB 689, Chapter 665, 2005 Statutes) and operated by the four federally-designated, non-profit organ procurement organizations (OPO) that serve our state under authorization from the U.S. Department of Heath & Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
    • What is the registry’s relationship to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)?
      The DMV’s driver license and ID card application and renewal forms include the question: "Do you wish to register to be an organ and tissue donor?" Checking YES on the form automatically enrolls the applicant in the Donate Life California Registry, and the pink "DONOR" dot will be pre-printed on the applicant’s driver license or ID card.
    • How can I be sure my information is kept confidential?
      As a state-authorized public service, Donate Life California adheres to the strictest and most up-to-date guidelines to keep all personal information confidential. Aside from standard information such as name and address, the only sensitive information we require is place of birth, while mother’s maiden name and driver’s license number are optional. Why collect this information? Because it is absolutely vital that we identify individual registrants with 100% certainty if they should ever be in a position to be an actual organ or tissue donor. We would never want to confuse a patient who is not registered, with someone who is. We assure you that every precaution is in place to protect the information from identity thieves. Of the 40+ state donor registries now in operation, there are no reported problems with unauthorized access to personal information.
    • How can I make a financial contribution to Donate Life California?
      We appreciate your interest on contributing to our efforts to help people in need of organ and tissue transplants. Donate Life California, a state-authorized, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, is dedicated to saving the lives of thousands of Californians awaiting life-saving transplants. Your monetary donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. Contributions may be mailed to Donate Life California, 1760 Creekside Oaks Drive, Suite 160, Sacramento, CA 95833. Thank you for supporting the effort to save lives through donation. Donate Life California!
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