Become a Registered Organ Donor

By becoming a registered organ donor, you may save a life someday. There is a chronic shortage of most organs needed for transplant in Canada – currently, more than 4,000 Canadians are waiting for organ transplants, and too many of them are children.

Organ transplantation is one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of medicine. After one year, liver and kidney transplant recipients enjoy a survival rate that exceeds 85%. For more facts on organ donation…

Transplants are also cost-effective. For each person with kidney disease, the average cost of dialysis treatment is $50,000 per year. The cost of a kidney transplant is approximately $20,000, with an additional $6,000 per year for anti-rejection medicines.

Organ and tissue donation provides each of us with a special opportunity to help others. Sharing your decision to be an organ donor with your family is as important as making the decision itself. Sharing your decision now will help your family to carry out your decision later. It is necessary for you to document your decision by completing a donor registration card. In some provinces, this can easily be done on-line.

In Canada, each province has its own organ and tissue donation system. To find out more information on the program in your region, please click on the appropriate province/territory:

Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland – these provinces do not currently have a registry, signing the back of your medical card or a donor card and making your wishes known to your family is standard practice.

British Columbia - www.transplant.bc.ca
Alberta -www.healthlinkalberta.ca
Manitoba - www.transplantmanitoba.ca
Ontario - www.giftoflife.on.ca
Quebec - www.quebec-transplant.qc.ca
New Brunswick - www.gnb.ca/0217/organ-e.asp
Nova Scotia - www.legacyoflife.ns.ca
Prince Edward Island - www.gov.pe.ca

If you are a resident of the United States and you wish to become a donor, contact your local Coalition on Donation. A list of these state representatives can be obtained from the Coalition on Donation site.