Frequently Asked Questions
Get the facts and learn the answers to frequently asked questions about organ, eye and tissue donation.
Will my donor registration status affect the care I recieve if I’m ever admitted into a hospital?
ANSWER- If you are ever admitted to the hospital, is the top priority of the healthcare staff is to save your life. Registering to be an organ donor does not affect your level of care and medical staff will do everything they can to save you. Organ donation discussions only happen after all lifesaving efforts have been made and a patient is declared dead by an independent hospital doctor(s). It is important to remember that hospital staff and Infinite Legacy recovery coordinators are separate entities.
Should I tell my family that I am a registered organ donor?
ANSWER – Yes. We strongly recommend everyone have end-of-life conversations with their loved ones. Whether you register to be an organ donor online or at your motor vehicle office, it’s important your family knows your wishes before your time of your death. It also relieves the burden on your family from having to make this decision on your behalf. If you would rather keep your end-of-life decisions private, you can register online and include specific donation details.
Will being an organ donor cost my family any money?
ANSWER – No. Organ donation comes at no cost to donor families. Families are only responsible for hospital expenses incurred prior to death declaration and for funeral expenses. All costs related to the organ, eye or tissue donation process are paid for by Infinite Legacy.
Can I still have an open casket funeral if I am an organ donor?
ANSWER – Yes. The donor’s body is always treated with respect and dignity. The recovery of organs and tissues is conducted in sterile conditions by qualified surgeons and clinical recovery coordinators. Following donation, funeral arrangements can continue as planned.
Am I too old to register to be an organ donor? Will a previous sickness affect my ability to be an organ donor?
ANSWER – No. Anyone, regardless of age and medical history, can be considered for organ, eye and tissue donation. Don’t rule yourself out!
Will I really be dead before my organs are recovered for transplant or research?
ANSWER – Yes. Infinite Legacy follows hospital policies and state and federal laws to ensure organ donors are declared dead before any organ recovery takes place. Hospitals are solely responsible for declaring death. Infinite Legacy is not involved in patient care and only has the authority to proceed with organ recovery after an independent hospital doctor has declared death.
Can organs be donated between different ethnic groups and genders?
Can donor families meet transplant recipients and vice versa?
ANSWER – The identities of donor families and transplant recipients are kept confidential unless both parties have expressed interest in connecting via our Aftercare team. The donor family may receive information such as age, gender and a general location of where the transplant recipient was from, as well as the health status of the recipient. The recipient may be told the donor’s circumstance of death and the organs that were recovered.
What’s the difference between organ donation and tissue donation?
ANSWER – Organ donation is the process of recovering organs like the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and intestine. A transplant candidate who is on the national transplant waiting list will be matched to receive the donated organ based on a variety of factors. Tissue donation includes corneas to restore sight, skin to heal burns, heart valves to repair defects, bones to correct injuries and tendons/ligaments to restore movement. Depending on how the donor dies, they will qualify for either organ donation or tissue donation. Often times one donor can be both an organ and tissue donor.
How long does the organ and tissue recovery process take?
Does my religion support organ, eye and tissue donation?
ANSWER – Yes. All major religions in the U.S. support organ, eye and tissue donation as a final act of compassion and generosity. If you are unsure of your religion’s stance on organ, eye or tissue donation, we encourage you to speak with your spiritual leader for guidance.