Organ Donation and Transplantation
Organ Donation in New York State
Thousands of New Yorkers are waiting with hope for an organ donation. This is the process of giving an organ, or part of an organ, to be transplanted into someone who needs it due to organ failure or severe disease.
The demand for organs in New York and in the U.S. far exceeds the available supply. This leads to lengthy wait times, worsening health, and preventable deaths. Hundreds of New Yorkers die or become too sick for a transplant before an organ becomes available.
People who become organ donors-through either deceased or living donation - choose to use their power to dramatically improve someone's life--or even save a life!
Becoming an Organ Donor
Only a very small number of registered donors meet the strict medical requirements and specific circumstances required to become an organ donor. One example is: a patient is declared brain dead in a hospital setting while on life support.
The person being considered as a possible donor must meet strict medical requirements. Also, their organ must be a match to a person in need of an organ. The potential donor or their loved ones must give consent to the donation, thus respecting the wishes of the deceased. It also involves considering various cultural or religious beliefs which may influence a family's decision. All these factors contribute to a shortage of organs for people who need a transplant.
About 8,000 New Yorkers are living with organ failure and waiting for a lifesaving transplant. They have a variety of illnesses that caused their organs to fail.
- Roughly 7,000 of the 8,000 are waiting for a kidney. They are alive only because dialysis is available.
- More than 500 are waiting for a liver transplant. Very few therapies are available to support patients living with liver failure while waiting for a liver transplant.
- A smaller number are waiting for a heart, lung, pancreas, or intestine transplant.
In 2024, about 690 people were removed from the waiting lists of New York State transplant centers. They died or became too sick to receive a transplant before an organ became available.
There are two types of donation
Deceased donation
Deceased donation is when organs are donated after the donor dies. This is also known as donation after death. The donor may have registered as an organ donor, or their family may give consent (permission) to go ahead with organ donation. It's important that we all make our wishes known to our family before we die. It will help them during this difficult time.
Deceased organ donors can save the lives of up to eight people. People whose organs are failing get a second chance of life. Organs that can be donated include the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and intestines.
People who pass away can also improve the lives of countless others through eye and tissue donation. The donation of eyes makes corneas available. These are used to give sight to those who are visually impaired. Skin is used to help burn patients heal through skin grafts. Bone, tendons, and ligaments are used to replace these tissues in patients with trauma, cancer, and/or other diseases.
Becoming a Deceased Donor
People of any age and medical history can possibly become donors. There are few diseases that automatically prevent you from becoming a donor.
The process starts with a decision. A person must consider the possibility that they may experience a trauma or a medical illness for which all medical treatment has been exhausted. They also need to consider if they would donate their organs if this situation happened to them. The best way to ensure their wishes are honored, is for them to enroll in the donor registry. It's equally important that they talk with family members to make them aware of their wishes.
New Yorkers 16 and older can register to save the lives of others by signing up to be an organ and tissue donor when they die. By joining the New York State Donate Life Registry, you record your decision to become a donor. Enrollment in the Registry documents your legal consent to donate your organs, eyes and tissues after your death.
Become a lifesaver by registering to become an organ, eye and tissue donor after you pass away. Register Today at: donatelife.ny.gov
Living donation and the New York State Living Donor Support Program
Living donation is another way to become an organ donor. With this type of donation, a living person donates an organ or part of an organ to someone in need. It is often a kidney or part of their liver. The organ may be directed to someone the donor knows—a directed donation--or it may be given to someone the donor does not know. The latter is called a nondirected or altruistic donation. Living organ donors help reduce the organ shortage by increasing the number of organs available for donation.
There is a lot to learn before you decide whether donating an organ is right for you. Talk to staff at a transplant hospital if you would like to learn more about this important and heroic gift of life.
To reduce the financial barriers to living donation, New York State is implementing/has implemented the Living Donor Support Program
