Who can donate an organ during their lifetime?
Whether someone can be a living donor depends on various things. For example, age and health. You can read about the conditions for donating a kidney or part of your liver here.
Conditions for donating a kidney or part of the liver
The Organ Donation Act (Wod) sets out rules that someone must meet to be allowed to donate during their lifetime. These conditions are the same in all hospitals in the Netherlands.
You may only donate a kidney or part of your liver during your lifetime if you:
- are 18 years of age or older and can clearly express your wishes
- choose to donate yourself and do not receive money or gifts for this
- are healthy and have a good physical condition
- do not have a (hereditary) disease that could cause problems later if you miss a kidney or part of your liver
- are not pregnant
- do not have a blood disorder, liver or kidney disease, or blood clotting problems
Age for living donation
There is no maximum age to donate a kidney during your lifetime. The hospital carefully assesses whether an older donor is healthy enough for the surgery. Specialists also check whether that person can live well with one kidney. An adult donor can give a kidney to another adult, but also to a child. A 1- or 2-year-old child can already receive a kidney from an adult.
There is an age limit for donating part of the liver. You must not be older than 60 years.
Psychological and physical examinations
Anyone who meets the requirements and wishes to donate during their lifetime can register with a transplant hospital. There, the potential donor will receive more information or an introductory interview. A specialist who knows a lot about living donation will then explain how it works and can answer questions.
Not everyone who meets the legal requirements can actually donate. The transplant hospital investigates whether the donor is healthy enough to donate, and whether the donor can cope with the emotions that come with donation. We call this a screening. The screening can take a few weeks. Only then is it certain whether someone can donate.
Change decision at any time
The donor can choose at any time not to donate a kidney or part of the liver after all. This is also possible right before the surgery.
