Your donor team will discuss all health risks with you. The risks of donation are similar to those involved with any other major surgery, such as bleeding and infection. Death from kidney donation is extremely rare. (0.03 percent of recipients, or three in 10,000) Research shows kidney donation does not change your life expectancy or increase a person's risks of developing kidney disease or other health problems. Research has shown that one kidney is sufficient to keep the body healthy, but we encourage a yearly physical and blood work with your primary care physician.