Living donation
Living donation is donating an organ to a sick patient who needs it, while the donor is still alive. On this page, you can read more about living donation.
The most well-known form of living donation is kidney donation. People have two kidneys, but only need one to live a healthy life. That is why you can donate a kidney to help someone with sick, non-functioning kidneys.
You can also donate a part of your liver while alive. The liver is a special organ. If a part is removed, the liver can grow back into a normally functioning liver within a few weeks. That is why you can donate a part to help a patient who is seriously ill.
Who can donate while alive?
Not everyone can donate a kidney or part of their liver while alive. The Organ Donation Act (Wod) contains rules that the donor must meet. These conditions are the same in all hospitals in the Netherlands.
You may only donate if you:
- are 18 years or older and can clearly express your wishes
- choose to donate yourself and do not receive money or gifts for it
- are healthy and in good physical condition
- do not have a (hereditary) disease that could cause problems later if you are missing a kidney or part of your liver
- are not pregnant
- do not have a blood disease, liver or kidney disease, or blood clotting problems
Who can you donate to while alive?
With living donation, the donor can choose who receives the organ. This can be a family member or friend, but also someone you do not know.
Bastiaan received a kidney from both his mother and father
Bastiaan has a hereditary kidney disease and has received two donor kidneys: one from each of his parents. That his son now has the same kidney condition is intense. Bastiaan wants to support him – but in his own way.
More information
Would you like to read more about living donation?
Living kidney donation
With living kidney donation, the donor gives a kidney to a patient who does not have properly functioning kidneys. Both the donor and the recipient can live well with one kidney.
Living liver donation
With living liver donation, a part of the liver is removed from a living person and transplanted into a patient who has a severely ill liver.
Frequently asked questions about living donation
Do you get money if you donate a kidney or part of your liver?
In the Netherlands, you are not allowed to earn money from donating a kidney or part of your liver.Living donation must always be voluntary and without payment. You are also not allowed to receive large gifts for the donation.
You can, however, receive reimbursement for expenses if you donate an organ while living. You will be reimbursed for costs incurred before and after the surgery. Think, for example, of travel expenses or extra childcare. The donor can request this expense reimbursementfrom the Dutch Transplant Foundation.
Can you live with one kidney or without part of your liver?
You can live well with one healthy kidney. The remaining kidney partially takes over the work of the removed kidney. Your total kidney function will then be about 65 to 75 percent of what it was when you had two kidneys. That is more than enough. Most people who have donated a kidney notice no difference at all compared to when they still had two kidneys. You also do not need to take medication or follow a diet.
If someone donates part of their liver, it grows back within about six weeks. The liver then functions normally again, just as it did before the surgery. During a liver donation, the surgeon also removes the gallbladder. The gallbladder helps with the digestion of fats. You can live well without a gallbladder, but sometimes you may need to adjust your diet.
How can you donate an organ while living?
If you want to donate a kidney or part of your liver while living, you must meet certain requirements. You must also be healthy enough to undergo surgery. For more information on how to become a living donor, you can contact an academic hospital in your area.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living donation?
Living donation has advantages and disadvantages. It is important that you know this before you decide whether you want to donate an organ.Read more about the advantages and disadvantages.