Organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines. Tissues include eyes, skin, bone, heart valves, tendons and vessels. Organ and tissue recovery takes place only after all efforts to save your life have been exhausted and death has been legally declared. The doctors working to save your life are entirely separate from the medical team involved in recovering organs and tissues. Donation neither disfigures the body nor changes the way it looks in a casket.
Donation costs nothing to the donor s family or estate.
However, you will find that there will be several weeks of recovery, and your own finances will have to be covered. If you have any questions, contact your religious advisor. Or visit Transweb for information regarding specific religions. A national system ensures the fair distribution of organs in the United States. The patients who will receive your organs and tissues will be identified based upon such factors as blood type, length of time on the waiting list, severity of illness and other medical criteria.