In cases where the 'next of kin' is not clear, the Medical Examiner can give guidance as to who has the authority to sign the consent form. A family member must sign an organ donation consent form even if the person has signed the back of their Alberta Health Care card. For tissue donation , the 'next of kin' will be asked if they wish to sign the 'Anatomical Gift Consent Form for Organ and Tissue Donation'. This request may come from a Doctor, Registered Nurse or Social Worker. The questions have to do with any illnesses that your family member might have had and whether they were at risk for contracting certain illnesses.
Blood testing is done to detect the presence of any infectious diseases.
A blood test to measure liver enzymes and sometimes a biopsy of the liver tissue is done to make sure that the liver is functioning well. Heart tests such as blood tests, an echocardiogram or a cardiac angiogram can be done to make sure the heart is functioning well. Lung tests such as a chest x-ray and an oxygen challenge are done to make sure the lungs are healthy. Kidney tests such as blood work, urine testing and sometimes a biopsy are done to make sure that the kidneys are healthy. Program Coordinator can be contacted at any time after the donation to provide support and answer questions regarding the experience.