Understanding Organ & Body Donation
Have you ever thought of being an organ donor or donating your body to science? This is an overview of what is involved.
Body and organ donation are quite different in eligibility and criteria and a completely different application process.
Organ Donation
BC Transplant manages all solid organ transplants – but also handle eye donation registration.
Eye Bank of BC oversees the eye donation program (see below) but it is the same application process
BC Transplant has a clear and easy to understand website.
You can register on-line or print off and complete the form. Paper forms are available at ICBC and Service BC offices.
If you have donated your organs, your body cannot be donated to science (because it is no longer whole)… but you can register for both because you won’t know how and where you will die.
Understanding Organ Donation
Two types – deceased donation and living donation:
For this education article we will only be discussion deceased donation. Living donation is an entirely different process.
Everyone, no matter their age or state of health are encouraged to register. If you have a medical condition, specialists will decide if your organs are suitable.
However, to actually become a deceased organ donor in BC a person must be on life support in a critical care unit, with no hope of recovery. Registration records are only accessible by the BC Transplant Team.
Only 1% of deaths in BC occur in a way that would enable someone to become an organ donor.
BC Transplant will only retrieve organs from a donor if there is a suitable match recipient.
Two doctors, independent of the transplant team must declare the patient’s death.
If you die while outside of BC, BC Transplant will be contacted. Organ donation takes place in the province/state/country where the person dies, according to the policies and procedures in place in that region. The same applies if an out-of-province or international patient becomes eligible as a donor while in this province; BC would manage this process.
Most often, organ donation takes place during a time of tragedy and deep grief. Families can override your request to be an organ donor so it is important that you have this conversation about your values, belief and decision with them while you are still alive and well.
You can revoke your request at anytime online or a paper form.
There are 3 types of donation:
After Neurological Death or ‘brain death.’
After a Circulatory Death: when the patient has had a severe brain injury and a decision has been made to stop life support.
After Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD): the criteria are the same as for a circulatory death. The patient must die in hospital.
Donors are treated with the utmost respect.
After the surgical recovery of organs, the donor’s body is released back to the family.
Eye Donation through the Eye Bank of British Columbia
By choosing eye donation individuals have the opportunity to leave a legacy by providing up to 8 people with transplants of ocular tissue.
It is the same application process as for solid organ transplant. See the link above to BC Transplant.
Who Can Donate?
Even people who wear glasses, who are blind, or suffer from cataracts or glaucoma may donate their eyes.
Anyone from age 2 to 75 can donate.
People with most forms of cancer may donate their eyes.
A thorough medical history review is completed at the time of death to ensure a person is eligible for eye donation.
A sample of conditions that rule out the possibility of docantion would include:
HIV, Hepatitis B, and/or Hepatitis C infection
ALS, MS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s
Leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, melanoma, and ocular cancers.
Who benefits from eye donation?
Up to two people may receive corneal transplants.
Up to six people may receive a sclera graft.
Tissue can be used to further research and education efforts into the treatment and prevention of ocular disease.
Donor families can derive a sense of comfort by knowing that their loved one has provided the gift of sight.
Understanding Body Donation: for Scientific Education & Research
Call: 604-822-2578
Registration Form (please go to the website for more details before completing the form).
UBC Vancouver is the only body donation program in BC.
The Body Donation Program in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has been in service since 1950. There is an increasing need for anatomical material for education and research.
As the custodian of the donations, the University ensures that the anonymity, confidentiality and dignity of our donors is upheld.
You can rescind your request at any time by contacting the UBC Body Program office.
An executor or next of kin may complete and sign an executor consent form after the death of a potential donor, or on behalf of an individual unable to give consent.
As soon as possible after death has occurred, the executor, next of kin or health care professional must contact the UBC Body Donation Program at 604-822-2578. Prolonged delay in notification can result in the decline of the donation.
Accepted donations will remain under the care of the University for a period of six months to three years.
Anyone over the age of 30 can donate their remains. There is no age limit.
The University reserves the right to decline any donation if considered unsuitable for its purposes. It is recommended that alternate arrangements be made in the event that the donation is declined.
Infectious diseases (e.g. HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B or C)
Severe antibiotic resistant infections (e.g. MRSA, VRE)
Obesity
Extensive trauma to the body (including recent major surgery)
Autopsy or Coroner’s case
Delay in notification of death
Most organ donations with the exception of corneal transplant (eye donation)
Some forms of cancer
Other conditions at the discretion of the Physician and Body Program Staff
Provided the donor still meets all other eligibility criteria, the Body Program can accept donors who undergo Medically Assisted Death.
Cost:
All transportation costs are now covered by the Body Donation Program.
The University will bear the cost of cremation when it occurs. (Consider a funeral home back-up in case your body is not accepeted).
The only costs would be for death registration and the issuance of Death Certificates through our partnered funeral home, Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services.
