There are more than 118,000 men, women and children in the United States, including more than 10,000 in Texas, who need an organ transplant to live. In 2016, more than 30,000 organ transplants were performed in the United States, more than in any previous year. While the number of registered donors is steadily growing, we need more people to register. Here are the facts about organ, eye and tissue donation.
- Every 10 minutes, someone new is added to the national transplant waiting list.
- Every year, about 8,000 people die waiting for an organ.
- On average, 22 people die each day waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.
- Organs and tissue are not matched with recipients according to race or ethnicity. People of different races frequently match each other.
- The number of Hispanic transplant recipients has more than doubled in the past 20 years, from 1,535 in 1993 to 4,133 in 2013.
The Facts About Donation
- FACT: Doctors and other clinical staff do everything possible to save your life. If they don’t, they could lose their license to practice medicine. You will only be considered a potential organ donor after all lifesaving measures have been exhausted.
- FACT: All major religions in the United States support organ and tissue donation and view it as a final act of love and generosity.
- FACT: In many cases, the full range of funeral services is available after organ and tissue donation, including open-casket viewings and cremation.
- FACT: The donor’s family pays for medical care prior to organ and tissue recovery, and for funeral expenses. They do not pay any of the costs associated with donation.