Living Donation
- Information courtesy of transplant.bc.ca
The first living organ transplant in BC was performed in 1976, when a mother donated a
kidney to her daughter. Since then, hundreds of living donor transplants have occurred.
In 1999 more kidney transplants were received from living kidney donation compared to
deceased donor kidney transplants, since then, the number of living donor transplants has
steadily increased. Live donation accounts for over 50% of kidney transplants each year.
Live kidney donation has a higher success rate for both graft (transplanted organ) and
recipient survival rates. The recipient is often in better health at the time of the scheduled
transplant compared to those who wait for a deceased donor.
In early 2001, BC Transplant established a living liver program, and the first of these
transplants was performed in March 2001.
Living Donor Programs at BC Transplant Include:
Live Donor Kidney Program
In BC living donor kidney transplants have been performed since 1976, hundreds of live
donor kidney transplants have taken place since then.
Paired Kidney Exchange Program
The paired kidney exchange program was introduced in 2006 to increase options for
patients on the kidney transplant waitlist who have living donors who have been tested and
found to be blood type incompatible.
Living Anonymous Donor (LAD)
BC Transplant is the first organization in the world to launch a comprehensive research
study into the ethical, psycho-social, and practical elements of living anonymous kidney
donation (LAD). To date 6 transplants have taken place as a part of this research initiative.
Live Donor Liver Program
In 2001 BC Transplant performed it's first live donor liver transplant, to date 23 transplants
have taken place with live donors.
Living Organ Donation Expense Reimbursement Program
Living organ donation is an act of altruism that reduces the wait time for patients in need of
a life-saving kidney or liver. Donating an organ should not be a financial burden to the
donor.
The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC Branch administers a program to potential living
donors that may reimburse you for eligible expenses related to organ donation. This
program is called LODERP and stands for Living Organ Donation Expense Reimbursement
Program.
The LODERP may reimburse you for expenses, including travel, accommodations, parking,
meals and, for Canadians, loss of income, related to your assessment and donation of an
organ (kidney or liver).
To learn more about LODERP visit: http://www.kidney.ca/BC/LODERP