Organ donation
People with a poorly functioning or non-functioning organ can sometimes be helped with a donor organ. But what is organ donation and how does it work? You can read about it on this page.
What is organ donation?
With organ donation, someone gives an organ to a person whose organ is not working (well). That person can continue to live thanks to a donor organ. Someone who gives away an organ is called an organ donor. In organ donation, the donor is always deceased, unless someone donates a kidney or part of the liver while still alive.
These are the organs you can donate after your death:
- Heart
- Lungs
- Liver
- Kidneys
- Pancreas
- Small intestine
How does organ donation work?
Organ donation is carried out with great care for the donor and their loved ones. First, multiple doctors determine whether someone has passed away. In doing so, the doctors follow a fixed step-by-step plan that applies in all hospitals. Subsequently, a special team of specialists comes to the hospital to remove the organs.
Stories about organ donation
‘I had to give up a lot, but valuable things come back in return’
In 2019, Tineke suddenly became seriously ill: her liver suddenly stopped working. She was lucky: a donor liver became available within a short time. But she had to say goodbye to the life she had been leading. Now she is at peace with her new life.
‘My mother gave others a second life’
Michelle lost her mother to a brain hemorrhage. Two years later, she looks back: with sadness, but also with pride and gratitude.
Linda had two heart transplants: 'I am living on bonus time'
Linda lives with a donor heart. Despite the complications and seemingly endless rehabilitation, she keeps fighting.
Living donation
There are two organs that you can donate during your lifetime. The well-known form of living donation is kidney donation. You have two kidneys, but only need one to live a healthy life. Therefore, you can donate a kidney to help someone with sick, non-functioning kidneys.
You can also donate a part of your liver to help someone who is seriously ill. If a part of the liver is removed, the liver can grow back into a normally functioning liver within a few weeks.
Frequently asked questions
Which organs can you donate?
After your death, you can donate these organs:heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine. In the Donor Register, you can indicate yourself which organs you do or do not want to donate. During your lifetime, you can donate one of your two kidneys and give away a piece of your liver to help someone else.
Can anyone be an organ donor?
Not everyone can donate organs after death.When someone passes away, a doctor assesses whether the organs are suitable for donation. This depends, for example, on the age and health of the person who wants to donate. Also, an organ donor must always die in the hospital while on a ventilator. Whether someone can donate can only be determined after death.
Can I be a donor if I am gay?
Yes, they can. Everyone can register a choice in the Donor Register. Your sexual orientation makes no difference. Whether someone can donate organs can only be determined after death. At that point, it is assessed whether the organs are suitable for transplantation.
Are you actually dead if you are a donor?
Yes. Organs and tissues are only removed once doctors are 100% certain that a person has died. The determination of death is carried out according to strict rules and by multiple doctors. Read more here about how organ donation works or watch a video in which we explain how brain death works.