The shortage of organs has led to more people receiving organs from living donors. Although this involves carrying out major surgery, the results are often very successful.
Before a living donor transplant can take place, strict regulations must be met and there must be a thorough process of assessment and discussion. See the below for more information about the regulations and assessment process.
Living organ donations
Kidneys are the most common organ to be donated by a living person. This is because it is possible for a healthy person to lead a completely normal life with only one working kidney. Nearly one in three of all kidney donations are from living donors.
It is also possible for part of a liver to be transplanted, and in some circumstances it may also be possible to donate a segment of lung. In a very small number of cases, part of the small bowel has also been transplanted.
Success and survival rates
The advantage of a living donor kidney transplant is that kidneys from a living donor last longer than those that are donated from someone who has died.
Research has shown that in people who receive a kidney from someone who has died:
- 77% of kidneys will still be working at 5 years
- 58% of kidneys will still be working at 10 years
However, in kidney transplants where the kidney is donated from a living donor:
- 84% of kidneys will still be working at 5 years
- 66% of kidneys will still be working at 10 years
Survival rates are also increased for people who receive kidneys from live donors as opposed to donors who have died.
The survival rates of patients who receive kidney transplants from live donors are as follows:
- 94% will still be alive 5 years after the transplant
- 85% will still be alive 10 years after the transplant
For those who receive kidney transplants from donors who have died:
- 85% will still be alive five years after the transplant
- 61% will still be alive 10 years after the transplant
Regulations and assessment
The Human Tissue Act 2004 and the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 provide the legal background for living donation in the UK. It is regulated by the Human Tissue Authority (HTA).
The HTA consists of 12 members, including 11 members from medical and scientific backgrounds, who are appointed by the Secretary of State for Health. The HTA’s role in living donation is to ensure that:
- donors are not put under pressure to donate an organ
- no payment is made for the donation (paying for donated organs is illegal in the UK)
After the organ donor and the recipient of the donation have been assessed by the transplant team, an independent assessor from the HTA will assess the donor. They will make sure that all the legal requirements for the donation have been met.
You can visit the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) website to find out more about how organ donations are assessed and regulated.
