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Delivering a Healthy WA

DonateWest - Western Australian Agency for Organ and Tissue Donation

Organ donation

Organ donation is a medical process where specific organs are removed from the body of a deceased donor and transplanted into someone else in order to save or improve the recipient’s life. It is a profoundly generous act on the part of an individual or family, which can transform the lives of people on the transplant waiting list.

In Western Australia, the organs that can be donated after death are:

  • Heart
  • Liver
  • Lungs
  • Kidneys
  • Pancreas

WA had 19 organ donors in 2007, which contributed to the 198 organ donor total in Australia.

Anyone has the potential to be an organ donor

Most people have the potential to be an organ donor - you shouldn't assume that you aren't healthy enough or that you are too young or too old. Certain factors are considered when determining if a person is an appropriate organ donor, which include:

  • the circumstances of how, where and when a person dies
  • any past medical history
  • age is considered, but it is more important to assess how the organs are working/functioning

Brain Death

For organ donation to be considered, the person must have died of brain death in an Intensive Care Unit of a hospital. Brain death is an irreversible end to all brain activity as a result of severe injury through trauma, stroke or lack of oxygen. The person is connected to a ventilator which allows the blood to continue to provide oxygen to the organs and keep them in a state suitable for transplantation.

Two appropriately qualified doctors who are not involved in transplantation will perform tests and certify the brain is so severely injured that it can no longer function, and declare brain death. Family members can request to be present at these tests.

While the deceased is on a ventilator, the organs continue to function as long as the heart continues to circulate blood around the body. After brain death is confirmed, the family will be asked to consider organ donation. The Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR) will be accessed to determine if any intentions regarding organ donation had been previously recorded. If organ donation proceeds, the deceased remains attached to the ventilator while arrangements are made to identify potential recipients.

Removal of organs is performed by senior surgeons and assisted by senior nurses. The donor is treated with respect and dignity at all times. Donation of organs and tissue does not alter the physical shape of the body. There are no costs relating to the donation of organs. Funeral and burial arrangements remain the responsibility of the family and can proceed as normal with viewing and open casket funerals as planned.

If you would like more information about:

  • Donating your body to science, contact the Body Bequest Program at University of Western Australia on (08) 6488 3288
  • Living donation, contact your local kidney transplant unit