Tissue Donation Process

We have covered how organ donation works, but what is the difference between organ and tissue donation?

Tissue donation, unlike organ donation, can take place regardless of cardiac death when ventilator support is not necessary or after a declaration of brain death.

A thorough background examination is again obtained from the patient but further tests, such as blood tests, cultures, a patient physical examination, or a review of autopsy findings can take place to determine the suitability of each tissue for the donation process.

Once declared to be an acceptable tissue donor, the donor is matched to a recipient like in the organ donation process. Tissue recovery surgery, like organ donation, is a respectable process. When completed, the tissue is restored to a natural look for both the recipient and donor’s appearance.

Depending on the situation of death, following an organ and/or tissue transplant the body is released to the medical examiner or to the family’s choice of funeral home. Donation outcome information is provided to the donor's family, but names and locations of the recipients are kept confidential, and the donor’s identity is also not revealed.

Written by Madison Bender