An organ is a part of the body that performs a specific function: like your Heart, Lungs, Kidney, Liver, Pancreas, intestine, eyes etc.

The organs that can be donated are: Liver, Kidney, Pancreas, Heart, Lung, and Intestine.

Tissue means a group of cells performing a particular function in the human body. Examples would be bone, skin, cornea of the eye, heart valve, blood vessels, nerves and tendon etc.

The tissues that can be donated are: Cornea, Bone, Skin, Heart Valve, blood vessels, nerves and tendon etc.

Organ Donation is the gift of an organ to a person with end stage organ disease and who needs a transplant.

There are two types of organ donation:-

1. Living Donor Organ Donation: A person during his life can donate one kidney (the other kidney is capable of maintaining the body functions adequately for the donor), a portion of pancreas (half of the pancreas is adequate for sustaining pancreatic functions) and a part of the liver (the segments of liver will regenerate after a period of time in both recipient and donor).
2. Deceased Donor Organ Donation: A person can donate multiple organ and tissues after (brain-stem/cardiac) death. His/her organ continues to live in another person’s body.

Age limit for Organ Donation varies, depending upon whether it is living donation or cadaver donation; for example in living donation, person should be above 18 year of age, and for most of the organs deciding factor is the person’s physical condition and not the age. Specialist healthcare professionals decide which organs are suitable case to case. Organs and tissue from people in their 70s and 80s have been transplanted successfully all over the world. In the case of tissues and eyes, age usually does not matter. A deceased donor can generally donate the Organs & Tissues with the age limit of:

Kidneys, Liver	Upto 70 Years
Heart, Lungs	Upto 50 Years
Pancreas, Intestines	Upto 65 Years
Cornea, Skin	Upto 100 Years
Heart Valves	Upto 50 Years
Bone	Upto 70 Years

Living Donor: Any person not less than 18 years of age, who voluntarily authorizes the removal of any of his organ and/or tissue, during his or her lifetime, as per prevalent medical practices for therapeutic purposes.
Deceased Donor: Anyone, regardless of age, race or gender can become an organ and tissue donor after his or her Death (Brainstem/Cardiac). Consent of near relative or a person in lawful possession of the dead body is required. If the deceased donor is under the age of 18 years, then the consent required from one of the parent or any near relative authorized by the parents is essential. Medical suitability for donation is determined at the time of death.

You can be a donor by expressing your wish in the authorized organ and tissue donation form (Form-7 As per THOA). YMC Organ donation and Transplant foundation will assist you in this process. Form 7 should be filled and signed in front of two witnesses. Three copies need tobe filled. One copy remains with you. One copy goes to the foundation and one copy is sent to National organ and tissue transplant organisation (NOTTO) or Zonal Transplant coordination committee (ZTCC)

No cadaver transplant programme can be successful unless there is time bound co- ordination amongst intra hospital, inter hospital and the society at large. Cadaver transplant activity is a hospital based activity with participation of all strata of society. The core group, which makes the donor organ functional in recipient, is the transplant surgeons and the Nephrologists. They in turn are dependent on entire hospital i.e. on intensive staff, neurosurgeons, neurologists, administrators, anaesthesiologists in addition to service branches like pathology, microbiology, imaging services.
The role of ‘Transplant coordinator’ and ‘Organ donation and Transplant Guide’ are of paramount importance; since both are in direct contact with the grieving family.

Yes, it will be helpful for the health professionals and your family.

No, if you have already pledged with one Organisation & received a Donor Card, you need not register with any other organisation.

Yes, you can pledge, but you need to preferably inform the person closest to you in life, a friend of long standing or a close colleague, about your decision of pledging. To fulfil your donation wishes, healthcare professionals will need to speak to someone else at the time of your death for the consent.

Donation of an organ or tissue provides an unparalleled opportunity to give someone a second chance of life. Your donation is not only giving impact to the life of one person or family, but it is of overall help for the society as a whole.

Yes, you can unpledge by making a call to YMC Organ Donation and Transplant Foundation or NOTTO or ZTCC. Also, let your family know that you have changed your mind regarding organ donation pledge.

No, none of our major religions object to donate organs and tissues, rather they all are promoting and supporting this noble cause. If you have any doubts, you may discuss with your spiritual or religious leader or advisor.

In India there is a growing need of Organ and tissue transplant due to large number of organ failure. As there is no organized data available for the required organs, the numbers are only estimates. Every year, following number of persons needs organ/tissue transplant as per organ specified:

Kidney	2,50,000
Liver	80,000
Heart	50,000
Lungs	50,000
Intestine	30,000
Pancreas	20,000
Cornea	1,00,000

Yes, in most circumstances you can be a donor. Having a medical condition does not necessarily prevent a person from becoming an organ or tissue donor. The decision about whether some or all organs or tissue are suitable for transplant is made by a healthcare professional, taking into account your medical history.
In very rare cases, the organs of donors with HIV or hepatitis-C have been used to help others with the same conditions. This is only ever carried out when both parties have the condition. All donors have rigorous checks to guard against infection.

Yes, The decision about whether some or all organs or tissue are suitable for transplant is always made by a specialist, taking into account your medical history. There may be specific reasons why it has not been possible to donate blood, such as having anaemia or had a blood transfusion or had hepatitis in the past or there may be reasons why you could not donate blood because of your health at the time - sometimes a simple thing like a cold or medication that you are taking can prevent you from donating blood.

Organ donation for therapeutic purposes is covered under the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA 1994).Whole body donation is covered by the Anatomy Act 1984.
Organ and Tissue donation is defined as the act of giving life to others after death by donating his/her organs to the needy suffering from end stage organ failure. Body donation is defined as the act of giving one’s body after death for medical research and education. Those donated cadavers remain a principal teaching tool for anatomists and medical educators teaching gross anatomy.

An average male will live for 75 years and female 80 years. The chances of becoming an organ donor in real are quite small. For example let us take Mumbai scenario. Mumbai has a population of around 1.4 crores. Every year there are about 700 deaths due to vehicular deaths i.e. 1 in 20,000. If whole of the city become willing donors – then maybe there will be 300 – 400 suitable donors.

Once you have decided to become a donor, the most important step is telling your family. Even if you sign the ‘donor card’ – your family still has to consent before organs are gifted.

You can help by:
A. Becoming a donor, and talking to your family about your decision of saving lives of others.
B. Promoting donation by motivating people at work place, in your community, at your place of worship, and in your civic organizations.

1. It helps in effective cadaver organ procurement.
   1. Donor and recipient matching by specific criteria established for each organ.
   2. Improve transplant outcome.
   3. Provide a system by which immunologically sensitized patients offered best possible opportunities.
   4. Decrease the wastage of organs.
2. Assure quality control by collection analysis and publication of data on organ donation and transplants.
3. Maintain and improve professional skills of those involved in organ procurement and transplantation.
4. To have immunosuppressive drug bank.
5. To increase public awareness.

An organization is formed to improve organ donations, procurement and transplantation system in the city, state and the country. In Sep. 1998; ZTCC (Zonal Transplant Co-ordination Center) was formed in city of Mumbai. Subsequently the same model is adopted all over Maharashtra.