Patients

Today, the success of the U.S. organ transplantation system requires the cooperation of many people and highly sophisticated technology. And it is all dependent on gifts of selfless generosity from donors and families who have chosen to enhance the lives of others through organ donation.

Resources by organ

About transplantation

About donation

  • Advances in transplantation science are helping to save more lives than ever.

  • The donation process begins with a decision. You decide you want to help people with end-stage disease by donating your organs when you die.

  • Living donation offers another choice for transplant candidates, and it extends the supply of organs.

  • Kidney paired donation (KPD) is a transplant option for those waiting for a kidney transplant. It is for patients who have a willing living donor.

  • When transplant hospitals accept patients onto the waiting list, the patients are registered in a centralized, national computer network that links all donors and transplant candidates.

Public comment

Learn about public comment—an essential part of the policy development process that occurs twice each year. Everyone is welcome to participate, especially transplant candidates, since these policies directly affect their care. 

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