Organ donation in India: Know the eligibility, registration process, and more

While both living and deceased donors are eligible to donate organs in India under the legal framework provided by the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, here is all you need to know about the organ donation process in India.

Here is all you need to know about the organ donation process in India.

Organ donation, the legal process of taking organs from willing donors, alive or deceased, to transplant into someone in need due to organ failure, has seen improvements in surgery, donation practices, and transplantation medicine over the last few decades.

Many countries have established legal frameworks for organ donation, such as India’s Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, with the government of India initiating campaigns and educational programmes nationwide to dispel myths about organ donation, inform the public about the need for organs, and explain how the donation process works.

On March 6th, 2024, a painter who lost both hands in an accident received a successful hand transplant at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital through a woman’s organ donation after death.

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As we witness a significant rise in organ donation, here’s all one needs to know about the organ donation process in India.

What’s the eligibility for organ donation in India:

Organ donation in India is regulated by the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act of 1994, allowing everyone to donate organs, regardless of age, caste, religion, or community, though preferably people over 18 years of age are considered.

However, the eligibility for donation is primarily determined by the donor’s physical condition, not age, encompassing contributions from both living and deceased donors, with specific guidelines for each type of donation.

Living Donors: Living donors are eligible to donate the following organs:

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One of their kidneys
A portion of the pancreas
Part of the liver

Living donors must be at least 18 years old, have no infectious diseases, active cancer, or severe infection, and are typically restricted to donating to immediate blood relatives. In special cases, donations can also be made out of affection and attachment for the recipient.

Deceased Donors: They have an opportunity to donate six vital organs: kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas, and intestine. While uterus transplants are performed, they are not classified as life-saving organs. Consent from the family is required for organ donation from a person declared legally dead.

In India, brainstem death is recognised as a form of death, allowing for organ donation. Following natural cardiac death, organs like corneas, bones, skin, and blood vessels can be donated. In cases of brainstem death, approximately 37 different organs and tissues can be donated, including the aforementioned six life-saving organs.

How to register for organ donation in India:

The process of registering for organ donation in India is straightforward. By completing an online pledge form by Organ India, one can initiate the procedure and receive a donor card with a unique government registration number from the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation. Here’s a step-by-step guide below:

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Online pledge form: Visit the Organ India website: https://www.organindia.org/pledge-to-be-an-organ-donor/ and fill out the online pledge form to express your intent to be an organ donor. Upon completion, you will receive a donor card with a unique government registration number.
National registration: All pledges made are registered with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO), ensuring that your intent to donate is officially recorded.
Family consent: While registering as an organ donor is an important step, it is crucial to discuss your wish to donate with your family. In India, the next of kin holds the authority to decide on organ donation after your passing, even if you have pledged your organs.

In addition to the above-mentioned registration process, it also involves understanding brain death criteria, obtaining family consent, matching organs medically, recovering organs with precision, and coordinating transportation for transplantation.

By following these steps and ensuring that your family is aware of your decision to donate organs, one can contribute to saving lives through organ donation in India.