Living organ donation is when a living person donates a kidney or a portion of their liver to another person.

Some people choose to be living organ donors because they want to help another person in need. Some people also choose to be living organ donors because they have a close relationship with the person who needs the organ. Many donors say “because we can!"

Living liver donors and recipients must have compatible blood types.Don’t know your blood type? Consider Donating blood with Canadian Blood Services

Generally, you must be in good health to be a living organ donor. You will need to have a physical exam and psychological evaluation to make sure you are eligible.

If you are interested in becoming a living organ donor, you can contact givelifesask.ca livingorgandonation@uhn.ca, or review the health history form. In BC, learn more through BC Transplant. Or fill out our contact form at the bottom of the page!

Anyone who is in good health and willing to freely donate can be a living organ donor.

According to the Canadian Organ Replacement Register (CORR), 576 healthy Canadians donated a kidney or a part of their liver to someone on the transplant waitlist in 2022.Of these, 485 were living kidney donors and 91 were living liver donors For more data click here IRODaT - InternationalRegistry on Organ Donation and Transplantation

The risks associated with living organ donation are low. The most common risks are infection, bleeding, and pain.

To become a living donor, you must complete a comprehensive health questionnaire and undergo a comprehensive physical and psychological evaluation which may take several months to complete.  Once you are approved for donation and provide informed consent, you will be scheduled for surgery.  

Kidney paired donation is a program that 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. Canada’s Kidney Paired Donation program is run by Canadian Blood Services, working with the living kidney donation and kidney transplant programs across the country. Kidney Paired Donation Program (blood.ca)