How to Donate Organs and Who Can Become a Donor?

Organ donation is the process of allowing your organs and tissues to be used for the treatment of other patients after medical death, based on your own free will or your family's consent. In Türkiye, anyone over the age of 18 of sound mind can donate their organs by applying to health directorates or hospitals. This life-saving step is the most important source of hope for thousands of patients waiting to regain their health.

• Anyone who is over 18 and of sound mind can become a donor.
• The donation process can be completed at state hospitals, private hospitals, and family health centres.
• Even if you have an organ donor card, your family's consent is legally required in the event of your passing.
• Alongside organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and pancreas, tissues like corneas and bone marrow can also be donated.
• Organ donation is performed by specialist medical teams only after brain death has been medically confirmed.

What is Organ Donation and Why is it a Vital Step?

Organ donation is the only chance of survival for patients whose conditions can only be treated through an organ transplant. The organs donated by a single person can breathe life into multiple individuals battling conditions like heart failure, end-stage renal disease, or advanced liver diseases. In Türkiye, thousands of patients are on waiting lists, holding onto hope for a suitable donor.

There are two primary types of donation: living donation and deceased (cadaveric) donation, which occurs after brain death. In living donations, a portion of the liver or a kidney is typically given to a family member. In deceased donations, all suitable organs and tissues can be used after the person passes away. For instance, the progression of silent conditions like fatty liver disease into advanced cirrhosis is one of the common scenarios that makes an organ transplant necessary. Therefore, the decision healthy individuals make to become donors while they are still alive represents one of the highest forms of social solidarity.

Who Can Donate Organs? (Organ Donation Requirements)

According to legal regulations in Türkiye, certain fundamental requirements must be met to become an organ donor. The most important rule is that the donor must be at least 18 years old. It is not legally possible for minors to donate organs of their own accord.

The second fundamental requirement is that the person must be of sound mind and make this decision entirely of their own free will, without any pressure. Having a chronic illness, being older, or having undergone various surgeries in the past does not prevent you from obtaining an organ donor card. In the event of passing, specialist physicians determine which organs are suitable for transplantation based on medical evaluations at that moment. For example, even if you have a visual impairment, your corneas could still bring light to another patient. Therefore, it is best not to hesitate to donate out of fear that your organs might not be useful; leaving that decision to the medical teams is the right approach.

Which Organs and Tissues Can Be Donated?

With advancements in medicine, many organs and tissues can be successfully transplanted. Within the scope of organ donation, kidneys and livers are among the most needed and frequently transplanted organs. Additionally, the heart, lungs, pancreas, and small intestine are vital organs that can be donated.

Beyond organs, tissue donation also significantly improves the quality of life or saves the lives of many patients. Corneas (the transparent layer of the eye), heart valves, bones, tendons, cartilage, and skin are the primary tissues that can be donated. Blood and bone marrow donations are other crucial types of donations a person can make while alive, which do not harm their own health thanks to cellular regeneration. The organs and tissues of a single donor can directly save the lives of up to eight different patients and improve the quality of life for many more.

How Do You Register for Organ Donation?

For those who wish to become donors, the application process is quite simple and fast. To donate organs in Türkiye, you simply need to visit your nearest healthcare facility. Organ donation units are available at state hospitals, private hospitals, family health centres, and provincial or district health directorates.

During the application, you only need to have your Turkish Republic (T.C.) ID card with you. When you inform the authorized personnel that you want to donate your organs, you will be given a form to fill out in the presence of two witnesses. On this form, you can choose to donate all your organs or select only specific ones. Once you sign the form, your details are registered in the Ministry of Health's National Organ and Tissue Donation Information System, and you are handed an organ donor card bearing your name. Carrying this card in your wallet and, most importantly, sharing your decision with your family is the most critical step of the process.

The Organ Transplant Process and Its Medical Aspects

The organ transplant process is a highly meticulous, multidisciplinary medical operation where time is of the essence. For a cadaveric organ transplant to take place, the person must first have experienced brain death under intensive care conditions. Brain death, unlike a vegetative state, is an irreversible, medical, and legal state of death. This condition is definitively documented through various tests by an independent board of specialist physicians.

Once brain death is diagnosed, the patient's family is consulted to request consent for organ donation. If the family gives consent, the National Coordination Centre steps in. The most suitable patients on the waiting list are identified based on medical criteria such as blood group compatibility, tissue match, and urgency. The organ retrieval process is performed with the precision of a standard surgical operation, showing the utmost respect for the integrity of the body. The retrieved organs are preserved in special solutions, swiftly transported to the transplant centres, and transplanted into the recipient patients.

The Family's Role After Donation and the Legal Aspects

According to legal legislation in Türkiye, even if a person has obtained an organ donor card while alive, the written consent of their first-degree relatives is mandatory for their organs to be retrieved after their passing. If the family does not give consent, organ retrieval cannot take place, regardless of the donor card. For this reason, when you make the decision to donate your organs, you must tell your spouse, children, or parents.

Families going through a painful grieving period can make decisions much more comfortably during the consent process when they know their deceased loved one had such a wish while alive. Furthermore, the delivery of the body for funeral arrangements is not delayed after organ donation. The procedure is completed by specialist surgeons using aesthetic sutures, ensuring the integrity of the body remains intact. Families can carry out normal burial procedures without any disruptions or visual distress.

When to See a Doctor and What to Look Out For

If you are considering living organ donation (for example, giving a portion of your liver or a kidney to a relative), you must undergo detailed medical evaluations. To be a living donor, your general health must be excellent, you must have no infectious diseases, and it must be proven that the surgery will not put your own life at risk.

Aside from this, it is vital for individuals at risk of organ failure not to neglect their regular check-ups. If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, you should consult a healthcare facility without delay:

• Noticeable yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Persistent swelling (oedema) in various parts of the body, especially the legs and abdomen
• A sudden decrease in urine output or blood in the urine
• Constant and extreme fatigue, shortness of breath
• Unexplained, severe, and persistent abdominal pain

Such symptoms can be harbingers of a serious problem in organs like the liver or kidneys. In cases of sudden confusion, severe chest pain, or vomiting blood, you should immediately call 112 to request emergency assistance.

The Process and Support at BHT CLINIC

At BHT CLINIC İstanbul Tema Hastanesi, we apply the most up-to-date medical approaches to protect and improve public health. Fully aware of how vital organ donation is, we place great importance on accurately informing and guiding our patients through this process. Individuals wishing to donate organs at our hospital can apply to our relevant departments to get detailed information and fill out donation forms.

For the early diagnosis and treatment of potential organ diseases, our hospital's General Surgery department serves you with its expert medical staff. In cases requiring surgical intervention, such as gallbladder, liver, stomach, and intestinal diseases, we offer safe treatment options in our advanced technology operating theatres. Our emergency department, providing uninterrupted service 24/7, is always by your side for sudden health issues. You can book an appointment to receive professional support for any health-related concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is organ donation permissible in Islam?

The High Board of Religious Affairs of the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) has stated that organ donation is permissible in the Islamic faith and is considered one of the greatest forms of help a person can offer another. Saving a life is regarded as a high virtue in our religion.

Can the elderly donate organs?

Yes, advanced age is not a barrier to organ donation. What matters is not the person's chronological age, but the biological health and functionality of the organs. In the event of passing, specialist physicians decide on the suitability of the organs.

I have an organ donor card, can I change my mind?

Yes, you can withdraw your decision to donate organs at any time. To do this, simply visit the healthcare facility where you registered, cancel your application, and inform your family of your new decision.

What is the difference between brain death and a vegetative state?

In a vegetative state, the patient's basic life functions, such as breathing, continue, and there may be a slight chance of recovery. In brain death, however, all brain functions have irreversibly stopped; death has occurred both medically and legally, and the person can only maintain organ vitality for a short period with the support of a ventilator.

Who receives the donated organs?

Donated organs are transplanted into the most suitable patients through the Ministry of Health's National Coordination System, based on objective criteria such as blood and tissue compatibility, the medical urgency of the patient, and waiting time. Who receives the organs is determined entirely by medical necessities.

This article is for informational purposes only; please consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.