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Living donation

 

Most of us are born with two kidneys. However, a healthy person can live a normal, healthy life with just one kidney. This means that a healthy person can give (donate) a kidney to someone whose kidneys aren’t working. This gift is living kidney donation.

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Who can be a living organ donor?

Any adult who is in general good health can be assessed to become a living donor. Every potential donor must participate in thorough medical assessments to ensure they are healthy enough to donate one of their kidneys or part of their liver.

The kidney donation process involves the surgical removal of one kidney from a healthy donor and transplanted into a recipient in need. In a healthy, approved donor, the remaining kidney is able to compensate for the removed kidney by increasing its functioning capacity.

Healthy adults can become living liver donors after extensive medical testing. Up to one half of the donor’s liver is surgically removed and transplanted into a recipient in need. Annual follow-ups with a doctor are recommended for all living organ donors.

Kidney paired donation

The kidney paired donation program matches transplant candidates with suitable living donors. It gives people the chance to become a living kidney donor while ensuring that someone they want to help receives a needed kidney, even if they are not a direct match.

Canadian Blood Services' Role in OTDT

Canadian Blood Services works with the Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OTDT) community to improve national system performance. We do this through the development of leading practices, professional education, public awareness and data analysis and reporting. We also manage clinical programs that support interprovincial sharing of organs.

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Related information

Professional education

This site provides valuable information and data related to clinical programs and services that support interprovincial sharing of organs, professional education resources including the Canadian Clinical Guide to Organ Donation, numerous reports, leading practices and clinical guidelines relevant to deceased donation, living donation, transplantation and tissues.

Learn more

Programs and Services for OTDT

Canadian Blood Services works with the Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation (OTDT) community across the country to facilitate inter-provincial organ sharing and to improve national system performance through the development of leading practices, professional education, public awareness and data analysis and reporting. 

Learn about programs and services for OTDT

Living Donation Storytelling Project

The Living Donation Storytelling Project is a unique digital library of video stories, recorded by real people, sharing their living donor kidney transplant experiences. Canadian Blood Services is collaborating with The Living Donation Storytelling Project to collect and share Canadian stories. Find out how you can participate in this project and share your story. 

Tell your story