How Organ Donation Works

Sworn to Save Lives Above All Else

At Donor Network West, we are dedicated to saving and healing lives. Similar to the commitment of all medical professionals—from first responders to nurses and doctors—our top priority is always to help those in immediate need. Once every possible life-saving effort has been made, we honor an individual’s wishes for end-of-life care and organ donation.

It Starts with a Choice

The decision to become an organ donor is a personal one. Additionally, there are laws and state regulations in place, like the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) of 1984 and the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (UAGA), of which both California and Nevada have adopted versions. They ensure that organ donation and transplantation are carried out ethically and respectfully.

When you register as an organ donor, you make your wishes clear. Organizations, including the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and other regulatory agencies work to make sure your gift is handled with integrity.

If someone hasn’t registered, their family makes the decision with the help of their region’s Organ Procurement Organization (OPO), like Donor Network West. The focus is always on honoring the donor’s legacy and supporting their loved ones with care.

A Life-Saving Gift

The OPO will work to support the family in their time of grief and guide the healthcare team through the donation process if needed.

As the OPO for northern California and northern Nevada, we at Donor Network West make sure the organs are safely transplanted. Alongside the hospital, we may be able to also offer meaningful ways for families to celebrate their loved ones, like honor walks or flag ceremonies. These events provide comfort and remind everyone of the life-saving impact of donation.

Understanding brain and cardiac deaths

Organ donation can happen after brain death or cardiac death. Here’s what they mean:

Brain Death:

This occurs when the brain can’t receive oxygenated blood and completely stops functioning, unable to recover. It can be a difficult concept to understand, and it’s not the same as being in a coma or on life support. Legal brain death is declared according to hospital policy and state laws. The AAN provides thorough guidelines to assist the hospital staff through this process. The OPO reviews prior to proceeding with the case to ensure compliance.

Cardiac Death:

Doctors wait five minutes after the heart stops beating before declaring death to confirm that the heart does not automatically restart and verify that cardiac death has truly occurred. Time is critical for organ donation in this instance because organs only stay healthy for a short time without blood flow. Thus, the donation process begins quickly thereafter.

In both cases, the hospital team carefully evaluates each patient and then, prior to the declaration of cardiac death, works to determine which organs can be used. Families receive support throughout the process and are informed about how their loved one’s gift has helped others.

It's a Match

Every day, more than 100,000 people in the United States await a life-saving organ transplant.

Finding the right match for an organ donor is a thoughtful, ethical and thorough process. Experts use the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database to match donors with people in need. Once a potential recipient is identified, the OPO works with the relevant transplant center to confirm the match. After finalizing plans, the OPO authorizes the donor hospital and transplant center to move forward.

Saving lives knows no boundaries, not even geography. Sometimes, organs are sent across state lines or even internationally to ensure they help the right person. Families can also choose a specific person on the waiting list to receive their loved one’s organ if they are a match. However, the number of successful recoveries each year is limited. Matching donors to donor recipients is a complex process that takes extreme care and time. Donor Network West averages about 500 recoveries annually.

The process from donation to transplant usually takes three to five days.

A Fundamental Human Responsibility

At Donor Network West, we treat every organ donation opportunity with respect and care. We follow strict guidelines to ensure every step is handled ethically and that the family is being supported. Organ donation is a profound way to save lives and honor a loved one’s legacy. Each act of donation is a reminder of how one person can make an incredible difference in the lives of many.

Become an Organ Donor

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