Becoming an organ donor
Organ donation means giving an organ to someone else who needs a transplant. The NHS keeps a list of any organ donation decision someone has made voluntarily. This list is called the NHS Organ Donor Register and you can record your decision to opt in, or opt out, by using this app.
About the NHS Organ Donor Register
The NHS Organ Donor Register is a confidential and secure database of people who have recorded a decision about whether they want to donate their organs and/or tissue after they die. You can register or update this decision at any time. Should you die in circumstances that mean you are able to be a donor, the register is used by medical staff to determine your decision, before talking to your family.
Who should record a decision on the register?
Everyone in the UK should record their organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register because it gives a clear record of your choice to medical staff and your family. You can choose to donate some, or all of your organs, or you can choose not to donate at all.
There is no age limit. Children can be registered by an adult with parental responsibility.
Having an illness or medical condition doesn't necessarily prevent a person from becoming an organ or tissue donor.
How do I record my decision?
- Register your donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register through this NHS App
- Talk to your loved ones about your organ donation decision.
Your family will always be involved before organ donation goes ahead. Your family can override your decision if they are unsure about what you want. So, leave them certain.
9 out of 10 families support donation going ahead when they know it’s what their loved one would have wanted. And if you decide not to become an organ donor, you can still help your family through a difficult time by making sure they know what you want.
What can I donate?
You can choose to donate some or all of the following:
- Kidneys
- Heart
- Liver
- Lungs
- Pancreas
- Small bowel
- Corneas (clear tissue at the front of your eye)
- Tissue (e.g. skin, bone and tendons)
Register not to be a donor
You can choose to opt out of all organ and tissue donation.
Withdraw from the register
You can choose to withdraw your decision from the register. If you do this, the NHS will not have a decision about organ donation recorded for you. In the UK, this means you may become a donor through 'deemed consent'
About organ donation
Organ donation means giving an organ to someone else who needs a transplant. This donation will greatly enhance or save the life of the person who receives the transplanted organ. Organ donation is an amazingly generous act and saves thousands of lives in the UK every year.
Most donated organs and tissues are from people who have died. However, it is also possible to donate a kidney or part of your liver as a living organ donor.
Organ donation law
The law around organ donation is an 'opt-out' or 'deemed consent' system. This means that unless you choose to opt out, or are in an excluded group, you will be considered to have agreed to be an organ donor when you die.
Organ donation remains your choice. No one has been added to a list automatically, and you can opt in or out of becoming an organ and tissue donor at any time. The best way to make sure your organ donation decision is supported is to record it on the NHS Organ Donor Register, and talk to your family.
Are there any restrictions to becoming an organ donor?
Having an illness or medical condition doesn't necessarily prevent a person from becoming an organ or tissue donor.
However, only 1 in 100 people die in the circumstances where their organs could potentially be used to help others. The decision about whether some or all organs or tissue are suitable for transplant is made by a medical specialist at the time of donation, taking into account your medical, travel and social history.
There are very few conditions where organ donation is ruled out completely.
Your ethnicity matters
On average, Asian patients wait up to six months, and Black patients wait up to twelve months longer than white patients for a kidney transplant.
- Organs are matched by blood group and tissue type and people from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a suitable match
- Family refusal is the biggest obstacle to organ donation amongst Black and Asian communities. The consent rate for families of Black and Asian potential donors is much lower than for white potential donors
Have the conversation today and share your donation decision.
Your faith and culture
Faith and culture play a big part in how people feel about organ donation, and talking to your loved ones about your decision can sometimes take courage.
It’s normal for you or your family to have questions about whether your faith or beliefs affect your ability to become an organ donor.
Your faith and beliefs will always be respected, whether or not you decide to become an organ donor.
More information on this topic is available online.