ORGAN DONATION

April 2001
		What does it mean to be an organ donor? Deputy Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu responds to your questions and comments.

Forum introduction How old is too old to be a donor? How do I find out about a specific donation? Can I be a living donor? What are the costs incurred by the family? I wish someone had asked me. Is it dangerous to be an organ donor? A message from a recipient Online Special: Organ Donation Return to the NewsHour's coverage of health	Michael Campbell of Hillsborough, NJ asks: The availability of organs (kidneys) can be increased by encouraging hospitals to accept non-directed donations from the public. I have contacted hospitals in three states offering to donate a kidney but was refused without being asked any questions or given a reason. Example: NYU Medical Center, 500 on waiting list, not interested. You have to know the patient or die. I would like to hear your comments. Thank you. Dr. Kenneth Moritsugu responds: I applaud you for your generosity, and lacking other details, am puzzled by the responses you received. Although non-directed living donations are not now commonplace, you should call the organ procurement organization in your state as well as in surrounding states, to ascertain which transplant programs are undertaking this kind of organ donation. There are several programs on the Eastern seaboard that are doing non-directed living donations.