Q. Why should minorities be particularly concerned about organ donation?

A. Some diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver are found more frequently in racial and ethnic minority populations than in the general population. For example, African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders and Hispanics are three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease than Whites. Native Americans are four times more likely than Whites to suffer from diabetes. Some of these diseases are best treated through transplantation; others can only be treated through transplantation. Successful transplantation often is enhanced by the matching of organs between members of the same ethnic and racial group.  For example, any patient is less likely to reject a kidney if it is donated by an individual who is genetically similar.  Generally, people are genetically more similar to people of their own ethnicity or race than to people of other races. 

Q. Are there any costs to my family for donation?

A. The donor’s family does NOT pay for the cost of the organ donation. All costs related to donation of organs and tissues are paid by the recipient, usually through insurance, Medicare or Medicaid.

Q. Can I sell my organs?

A. No! The National Organ Transplant Act (Public Law 98-507) makes it ILLEGAL to sell human organs and tissues. Violators are subject to fines and imprisonment. Among the reasons for this rule is the concern of Congress that buying and selling of organs might lead to inequitable access to donor organs with the wealthy having an unfair advantage.

Q. How are organs distributed?

A. Patients are matched to organs based on a number of factors including blood and tissue typing, medical urgency, time on the waiting list, and geographical location.