What is Organ Donation and How is it Done?

With organ donation, one donor can save multiple lives. Currently, the number of organ donors in Turkey remains low compared to Europe, and the number of patients waiting for organ transplants is increasing. Organ donation can offer hope to patients with advanced organ failure whose only option is an organ transplant.

What is Organ Donation?

Organ donation is the voluntary donation of organs and tissues by individuals over the age of 18, either while alive or after brain death, for use in the treatment of other patients. Organ donation is the first step towards organ transplantation. Organ transplantation is the surgical replacement of an irreversibly damaged organ with an organ taken from a suitable donor.

Organ donation is entirely voluntary and is a decision that must be made by the individual's free will; it is a process conducted within the framework of ethical rules and strict medical criteria.

Organ donation ensures the survival of people who have no other treatment options and is the only treatment method in cases such as severe liver, kidney, and heart failure.

The functions of organs taken from brain-dead individuals are preserved while they are connected to life support units, as blood circulation continues. Organ donation while alive is possible for certain organs and requires medical evaluation. Organ donation allows a person to offer a chance at life to more than one patient after their death and saves lives.

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Who Can Donate Organs?

Anyone who wants to donate organs can do so within a specific legal and medical framework. The functional condition and medical suitability of the organs are considered for organ donation. To donate organs while alive, one must be at least 18 years old and psychologically healthy.

According to Law No. 2238 on "The Acquisition, Storage, Transplantation and Transfer of Organs and Tissues";

“Article 14 - If a person has not officially or in writing stated in a will that they are donating their entire body or tissues for treatment, diagnosis, or scientific purposes, or has not expressed this wish in the presence of two witnesses, organs and tissues may be taken from the deceased with the consent of their spouse, adult children, mother or father, or one of their siblings; if none of these exist, with the consent of any relative present.”

If the deceased person declared during their lifetime that they were against organ or tissue transplantation after death, organ donation is not permitted.

What are the Necessary Conditions for Organ Donation?

To donate organs, a person must be at least 18 years old, of sound mind, and in a suitable health condition for organ transplantation. For living donors, a detailed medical examination is mandatory, including blood group compatibility, tissue type analysis, organ function tests, infectious disease screenings, and psychiatric evaluations.

Brain death diagnosis must be given by a medical board and proven with further tests. A patient who has experienced brain death is considered medically and legally dead, and their organs can be taken after the diagnosis is made. A single donor can save multiple lives through organ donation.

Which Organs and Tissues Can Be Donated?

Both vital organs and various tissues can be donated through organ donation. Donations from living donors are usually from kidneys and part of the liver. After brain death, multiple organs and tissues can be donated simultaneously.

The organs and tissues that can be donated through organ donation are as follows:

• Kidney
• Liver
• Heart
• Lung
• Pancreas
• Small intestine
• Heart valve
• Cornea
• Bone
• Bone marrow
• Skin

How to Donate Organs?

Organ donation in Turkey can be done through provincial health directorates and authorized hospitals. Individuals wishing to donate organs can apply to the relevant health institutions and declare their desire to donate organs. The organ donation card is filled out and signed in the presence of two witnesses. The suitability of the donated organs is investigated after the brain death of the organ donor, and the organ transplantation process is initiated. Individuals who donate organs are given a donation card.

Organ retrieval is performed in the operating room with surgical precision, and the donor's bodily integrity is preserved. The funeral process is carried out normally. The organ donation process is strictly regulated from a medical, ethical, and legal perspective.

Organ donation can be done at the following units:

• Health Directorates
• All public and private hospitals
• Organ Transplantation Centers
• Family Health Centers
• Community Health Centers
• Regional Coordination Centers

How is an Organ Donor Selected?

Organ recipients are selected from among patients registered on the national organ waiting list. Priority is given based on factors such as blood group compatibility, tissue compatibility, medical urgency, geographical distance from the organ center, and waiting time. The goal is both to provide the organ to the most suitable patient and to increase the success rate. While urgency is paramount for heart transplants, tissue compatibility can be more decisive for kidney transplants. The principle of fairness is fundamental in the process coordinated by the Ministry of Health, and identity information is not shared between the recipient and the donor family.

Why is Organ Donation Important?

Organ donation is the only life option for patients suffering from organ failure. While dialysis offers a temporary solution to organ failure, organ transplantation provides a permanent cure.

Conditions such as heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or advanced kidney failure significantly shorten life expectancy, and organ transplantation allows many patients to return to a normal life.

Organ donation saves lives. The lives of up to eight patients can be saved thanks to one donor who donates their organs, but the availability of each organ varies depending on the donor's medical condition.

Who Cannot Donate Organs?

For organ donation, the patient's medical condition must be satisfactory. Uncontrolled systemic infections, widespread and active cancer, severe sepsis, or certain infectious diseases can prevent organ use. Furthermore, advanced age alone is not a barrier to organ donation; the functional status and capacity of the organ are the determining factors. If the person has not declared their intention to donate organs and their family does not give consent, the organ cannot be taken.

Frequently Asked Questions About Organ Donation

How does a person become eligible to donate organs after their death?

Organ donation requires brain death, which is diagnosed by specialist physicians based on specific criteria.

Can a Smoker Be an Organ Donor?

Smoking does not preclude organ donation, and the effects of smoking on organs must be evaluated. If the organ function is preserved and medical suitability is determined, a smoker can donate organs.

Up to what age can organ transplantation be performed?

There is no upper age limit for organ transplantation; the functionality of the organ and medical suitability are essential. Organ transplantation is also possible in pediatric patients.

Is Organ Donation Permissible According to religion?

In the Quran, in Surah Al-Maidah, verse 32, it is stated, "Whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved all of mankind," emphasizing that saving lives is one of the most fundamental principles in Islam. In Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 195, it is stated, "Do good. Indeed, Allah loves those who do good," highlighting the importance of doing good. Organ donation and saving lives is a great act of kindness for humanity.

Can Cancer Patients Donate Organs?

Organ donation is possible for certain types of cancer that have not spread, but patients with widespread and active cancer cannot donate organs.