Life never comes to an end; it merely blooms in another form.
One corneal donor can restore a colourful world for those trapped in darkness.
A beating heart allows another soul to feel morning breezes and warm sunshine once again.
A donated liver or kidney can rescue a family on the verge of collapse.
Human organ donation is an invaluable gift of life that transcends life and death, a spark of hope amid despair, and extraordinary benevolence written by ordinary people.
Statistics show that around 300,000 patients in China urgently need organ transplants every year, yet only about 10,000 can receive the surgery. Every volunteer registration creates a chance for someone to regain life. Your single decision lets the value of life transcend time, carrying the warmth of heartbeat within another body.
Basic Knowledge of Human Organ Donation
1. What is organ donation?
Organ donation means that upon a person’s passing, their viable organs are donated free of charge to patients suffering from end-stage organ failure, in accordance with the will of the deceased or their family. The transplant recipients can extend their lifespan, improve their quality of life and continue to contribute to society. Currently, China’s organ donation program covers voluntary posthumous organ donation and limited living organ donation.
2. Eligibility requirements for organ donors
There is no absolute age limit for posthumous organ donation. Generally, any healthy person free of infectious diseases and malignant tumours (except primary brain tumours) may register as an organ donation volunteer. However, final donation eligibility will be determined by professional medical assessment after death.
3. Core principles governing organ donation in China
1. Human organ donation shall be voluntary and unpaid. Every citizen has the right to choose to donate or refuse organ donation. One’s donation intention shall be stated in writing or a will, and may be revoked at any time.
2. If a citizen did not explicitly refuse organ donation during their lifetime, their spouse, adult children and parents may jointly decide on donation after death, with the decision documented in writing.
3. If a citizen expressed refusal to donate organs before passing away, no organisation or individual may retrieve their organs for transplantation.
4. Organs eligible for donation
Whole or partial vital functional organs including the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine.
Frequently Asked Questions About Human Organ Donation
1. How to register as an organ donation volunteer?
If you wish to donate organs after death, communicate your intention with your family to gain their understanding and support. You may complete registration with valid identity documents via the official website of China Organ Donation Administrative Center or local Red Cross branches at all levels.
2. Will medical staff stop rescuing me after I sign the volunteer registration form in case of emergencies?
Saving lives is the inherent duty of all medical workers. Expressing organ donation willingness will not affect standard emergency rescue and treatment under any circumstances.
3. Does volunteer registration guarantee successful organ donation upon death?
Registration only records your personal willingness to donate. Realisation of donation depends on rigorous medical evaluation after death and unanimous consent from all immediate family members.
4. Under what circumstances will the organ donation procedure be initiated?
The donation process can only start when life is medically confirmed irrecoverable and the deceased did not reject organ donation during their lifetime. Rigorous medical assessment will be conducted first to verify organ viability, followed by confirmation of volunteer registration and full consent from the family.
5. Can organ donation proceed if any family member objects?
Organ donation cannot be carried out if any immediate family member disagrees.
6. What procedures will be completed once donation eligibility is confirmed?
1. Professional death assessment specialists will confirm death following strict standards and protocols.
2. Surgeons retrieve organs strictly in line with the documented donation intention.
3. The retrieved organs are allocated to matching patients with organ failure through the national organ allocation and sharing system based on scientific and impartial rules.
4. Medical staff will fully restore the donor’s body appearance, and all present personnel will observe a moment of silence to honour the donor.
5. Organs will be transported to recipient hospitals at the fastest speed for transplant surgery, saving another human life.
7. How do family members complete donation confirmation?
Whether the deceased registered as an organ volunteer during life or not, the family’s consent must be obtained in writing. All immediate family members (parents, spouse, adult children) shall sign the Human Organ Donation Confirmation Form together, or authorise a representative to sign on their behalf to finalise donation approval.