Organ and tissue donation is the process of recovering organs and tissues from a deceased person and transplanting them into others in order to save or enhance the lives of those in need. Up to eight lives can be saved through organ donation, and another 75+ lives may be improved through tissue donation.

There are approximately more than 1,300 local residents and approximately 115,000 people in the U.S. waiting for organ transplants (www.unos.org). Each year, approximately 7,000 people die waiting for an organ transplant that would have given them a second chance at life with their families. In addition, each year hundreds of thousands of people benefit from donated tissue that is used for lifesaving and reconstructive purposes.

The most commonly transplanted organs are the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancreas and small intestines. As for tissues: Heart valves are used to replace defective valves; this is particularly lifesaving for babies and small children because of the small number of pediatric hearts available for transplant Corneas can restore sight to the blind Skin is used as a temporary dressing for burns, serious abrasions and other exposed areas Bone is used in orthopedic surgery to facilitate healing of fractures or prevent amputation, particularly for cancer and trauma patients Tendons are used to repair torn ligaments on knees or other joints Veins are used in cardiac by-pass surgery, particularly where the patient cannot provide his or her own veins Many tissues that cannot be used for transplant can be recovered and used in a variety of research studies to advance cures to fatal diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, cancer and others.

The District of Columbia is part of the service area of Infinite Legacy, the federally designated, non-profit organ procurement organizations(OPO). Infinite Legacy is exclusively responsible for facilitating the donation process, and only the OPO’s authorized staff have access to both the donor and recipient medical information which makes accurate matching possible. Organ recovery and allocation is regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Organs are allocated nationally based on a complex medical formula that is established by transplant doctors, public representatives, ethicists and organ recovery agencies. UNOS (the United Network for Organ Sharing at www.unos.org) maintains the list of patients waiting for a transplant. A donor's blood type, tissue type, body weight and size are matched against patients on the list. If there are multiple matches, priority is given to the sickest patients or, in the case of kidneys, those who have been on the waiting list the longest. Factors such as race, gender, age, income or celebrity status are never considered when determining who receives an organ.

Organs and tissues that are not recovered for transplant may be recovered by the local organ procurement organization (OPO) for pre-approved medical research if the donor (or family, in lieu of a registry record) authorizes such. All research projects are carefully evaluated by each OPO, and only those projects that offer clear medical benefit and are administered by experienced, reputable organizations are approved.

Donated organs and tissues may be used for two purposes: transplantation and medical research. The Donate Life DC registry allows you to opt out of donating organs and/or tissues for research. During the sign up process, check off the “Donation Limitations” box and check the “For Research” box under both Organs and Tissues. If you have already signed up online or via the DMV, you may go to the registry website, click on Update My Donor Profile, enter your login information then specify donation limitations. While updating your profile you may also change your password and personal information or remove your name from the Donate Life DC registry.

By checking the “Donation Limitations” box on the sign up page, the subsequent page allows you to opt out of donating specific organs and/or tissues or donating for medical research. In addition, you can specify that your donated tissue must be used for life-saving or reconstructive purposes only, distributed only to non-profit organizations, or distributed only in the United States.

In most cases, race and gender are not factors. However, organ size (which can be affected by gender) is critical to match a donor heart, lung or liver with a recipient. Genetic makeup can be a factor when matching a kidney or pancreas donor and recipient, because of the importance of tissue matching in those two organs. Optimal tissue matching can happen often within the same racial and genetic background. For example, an individual of Asian descent may match better with a kidney donated from another Asian versus a different race. However, cross-racial donations can and do happen with great success when matches are available.

So-called “directed donation” of an organ to a specific individual is legal, but it must be done at the time of donation. (Organs may not be directed to a group of individuals.) Directed donation is best supported by an advance directive or may be granted by next of kin at the time of donation.

The Donate Life DC registry allows District of Columbia residents who are at least 18 years of age to register their authorization to donate all or specific organs and tissues upon their death. Children between the ages of 13 and 17 can join the Donate Life DC registry, but until the designated donor is 18 years old, parents or a legal guardian will make the final decision about organ and tissue donation at the appropriate time.

Once you sign up with the Donate Life DC registry, your donor designation grants authorization for organ and tissue recovery. Should you be in the position to donate, your next of kin will be presented with documentation of your registration but will not have the power to override your decision. It is important to tell your next of kin or healthcare power of attorney of your wishes so that they may be prepared to cooperate with the health care team about your medical history.

In Washington, DC, people can register their intent to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at the DMV at age 16. There is no upper age limit.