For information on how to record your wishes to donate organs and/or tissues after you die, visit the Organ and Tissue Donation Registry.
Questions? Contact us GiveLifeAlberta@ahs.ca
Organ and tissue donation services in Alberta are provided using a collaborative approach by specialized programs located within Edmonton and Calgary. Successful inspections by Health Canada have demonstrated strict adherence to all transplantation safety standards.
Human Organ Procurement and Exchange Program (HOPE)
- Coordination of the deceased organ donation process.
Comprehensive Tissue Centre (CTC)
- Facilitation of the tissue donation process for both deceased and living tissue donors.
- Accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and the International Standards Organization (ISO)
Clinical Islet Lab (CIL)
- Isolation of insulin-producing islet cells from a donor pancreas, for transplantation
Living Organ Donor Programs
- Facilitation of the living organ donation process.
Southern Alberta Organ Donation Program
- Coordination of the deceased organ donation process.
Lions Eye Bank
- Facilitation of eye donation
- Accredited by the Eye Bank Association of American (EBAA)
Southern Alberta Tissue Program
- Accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB)
- Facilitation of the tissue donation process for both deceased and living tissue donors
Living Kidney Donor Program
- Facilitation of the living kidney donation process.
Alberta Grief Directory Service Listings
Calgary Zone
We honour our donor families. We remember their loved ones with our annual Recognition Service. Each year in April (during National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week), a Recognition Service is held to remember people who have donated organs and tissues. This is also a time to honour and thank donor families for their gracious consent.
Organ donation refers to the removal of an organ (such as the heart, lung, kidney, etc.) from one person for transplantation into another person. Tissue donation refers to the removal of various tissues in the body (such as skin, corneas, bone, etc.) for transplantation into another person's body. There are some important differences between organ and tissue donation:
Organ Donation
In some cases, an organ donor may be a "living donor", meaning that donating the organ will not harm the donor. For example, when a brother gives one of his two kidneys to his sister or a mother gives a lobe of her liver to her child.
Otherwise, organs can only be donated to another person if both of the following conditions apply:
An organ donor usually dies an unexpected, tragic death following severe injury to their brain. Often this is the result of a motor vehicle accident, spontaneous brain bleeding, or trauma such as a fall.
Tissue Donation
Nearly everyone can be considered for tissue donation when they die. Tissues do not require the same conditions as organs to survive, so tissue donation is possible after the heart and lungs have stopped working.
Tissues for donation must be removed within 12-24 hours after a natural or tragic death. The donor does not need to be maintained on a ventilator.
The criterion for organ and tissue donation is always changing and there may be specific reasons a person is unable to donate. These reasons are often related to a person’s medical or social history or certain illnesses they may have. Ultimately, the organs and tissues have to be healthy and the donor must be free from diseases that could potentially be harmful to the recipient.
Organs:
Tissue:
Yes. Kidneys, part of the liver can be donated. Talk to your family doctor, who will then refer you to a specialist, or call the Living Donor Program for more information.
Living Donor programs exist within both Calgary and Edmonton. The University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton supports the living donation of the kidney and part of the liver to someone close to them. The Southern Alberta Transplant Program supports living kidney donation.
Living tissue options include donation of the amniotic sac (membrane) following childbirth and donation of the top portion of the thigh bone (femoral head) following a hip replacement.
For more information on organ and tissue donation please contact the donation programs in Alberta closest to where you live. You will find this information on the ‘contact us’ page.
Organ donation is only possible if the donor has severe damage to the brain that is incompatible with life and has been maintained on a ventilator until the organ is removed. In order to become an organ donor, legal consent is required and routine screening of potential donors is done to prevent any possible risk of transmission of disease to a potential recipient.
There is no age limit for organ donation. The quality of the organ is what is assessed. Livers have been successfully transplanted from donors in their 80’s and lungs, liver, and kidneys have transplanted from donors in their 70’s.
Absolute contraindications for organ donation are malignancies (other than non-metastasizing brain tumors), and positive HIV status.
For tissue, donor eligibility is between birth and 80 years of age. Absolute contraindications for tissue donation are more restrictive, including but not limited to: infectious diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, active sepsis, and certain high risk social behaviors.
The Donor or next-of-kin will be asked to provide answers to a standard Medical/ Social Questionnaire. This questionnaire is used to establish that the organs/ tissues from the donor are safe to transplant into another person. The questions have to do with any illnesses that the donor might have had and whether they were at risk for contracting certain illnesses. For example, did they have a history of intravenous drug use?
When damage to the brain is severe, the brain swells. In the confines of the rigid skull this swelling may stop all blood flow in the brain. With no blood flow, the brain no longer receives oxygen and nutrients essential for survival and therefore dies. Once the brain dies, the body will also die. The individual no longer has the ability to breathe on his/ her own, and must be maintained on a ventilator in an Intensive Care Unit.
Sometimes, the body can be kept functioning for a short period of time through the use of medications and mechanical ventilation, however, the patient has died and the brain has ceased to function. The patient may seem warm to the touch and the heart will continue to beat, but the patient is in fact dead.
Neurological death or “brain death” is usually diagnosed with a series of clinical tests that are performed at least twice by two different physicians experienced in the determination of brain death, and who are not taking care of the intended organ recipients. The tests can tell:
It is important to know that once the determination of brain death has been made, the person has died. Brain death is a non-reversible condition and once determined, it is the legal time of death.
No. Organ donation is not an option, but tissue donation is possible depending on the time of death. Organ donation can only be considered when there is a beating heart which supplies blood and oxygen to the vital organs.
No. In order for your body to be used for science, medical education and teaching, it is donated whole and therefore organ donation cannot occur. However, eye donation may still be possible.
Legislation in Alberta ensures confidentiality for the donor. However, the donor family may share their decision with friends and relatives, or they may chose to keep it confidential.
If you donate your body to research or science, your organs and tissues cannot be used for transplantation. Arrangements for total body donation must be made prior to death as specific information and registration is required. Arrangements are made through:
There is no cost for organ and tissue donation to the donor or to the donor's family. Alberta Health and Wellness covers all medical expenses. Organ and tissue donation is considered an act of altruistic generosity. It is illegal to sell organs/ tissues in Canada.
Most families feel that organ donation has helped ease their grief. They recognize that they were given the opportunity to provide the gift of life to another person in an otherwise tragic situation.
A thorough assessment takes place in the ICU to determine the stability of the donor, organ function and risk of disease. Even if the organs were healthy and strong in life, the process of death itself may cause injury, which may deem the organ unsuitable for transplant. To ensure that we transplant the safest organs possible, a review of the medical and social history is undertaken with the family; the questions are similar to the ones asked of all blood donors. A physical examination, laboratory, and diagnostic tests are performed:
Organs and tissues that are being considered for transplant must undergo extensive testing to ensure the organs are healthy and disease free. While the risk of disease transmission is not zero, the screening performed on organ and tissue donors ensures that the risk is extremely low. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.
Organ and tissue donation is a very individual and personal matter. If you are at all concerned, you should discuss the issue with your own religious leader.
For living donation, you will sign the consent form for the removal of the organ or tissue yourself
For organ donation, the next-of-kin or immediate family will be contacted by physicians in the intensive care unit. The family will be offered the option of organ and tissue donation.
For tissue donation, the next-of-kin will be offered the option of tissue donation or can bring it to the attention of the healthcare provider. This support may be facilitated by healthcare team member such as a doctor, registered nurse, social worker, or representative of the Office of the Medical Examiners office.
A family member must sign an organ donation consent form,
even if the person has registered to donate.
Absolutely not. All possible medical interventions will be exhausted and every effort will be made to save your life before donation is even considered.
Although registering on Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry is legally binding, your next-of-kin is still requested to sign consent in order for donation to proceed. For that reason, it is very important to discuss your wishes with your family and let them know what you would want in the event of a sudden loss or tragedy. Family members will feel better about their decision if they know the wishes of the person in advance.
No. Organ and tissue donation is recognized as an altruistic and very personal gift. Families are presented with the options of what may be possible and then given the choice of what they want to do.
A family member must sign an organ donation consent form,
even if the person has signed the back of their Alberta Personal Health Card.
Legal consent is required in order for donation to proceed. The decision to donate is a personal one, and a clear legal consent is required from the next-of-kin. The family largely drives the donation decision, and can choose to donate all organs and tissues, specific organs or tissues, or none. They also can choose what purposes the organs and tissues can be used for: transplant, scientific research and/ or medical education.
Unfortunately, when it comes to organ and tissue donation, timing is very important. This is why it is so important for people to discuss their wishes with regard to organ and tissue donation with their family. Family members will feel better about their decision if they know the wishes of the person in advance.
The time it takes to complete the organ and tissue donation process may vary, but it can take up to 24-36 hours to complete.
The Donor Coordinators are specially trained Registered Nurses that are responsible for:
Patients requiring transplants are matched to an available organ based on a number of factors: blood group, height, weight, medical urgency (sickest first), length of time on the waiting list, and geographical location. Medical specialists in the transplantation field choose recipients to "best match" the available organ.
The surgery to remove organs and tissues is done with the same care as any other surgery. Everything possible is done to ensure that the dignity of your family member is maintained and that his or her body is treated with respect. All areas that are disturbed in the removal of the organs/ tissues are reconstructed. This is especially important in situations such as eye tissue donation. In these cases, the eye area is reconstructed so that you cannot tell that surgery has been done. As a general rule, you can expect that the body of your family member will be released for the funeral 24-48 hours after the death.
In most cases, there are no visible signs that prevent an organ or tissue donor from having an open casket funeral if desired.
One organ and tissue donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance as many as 75 more |
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Alberta Health Services donation programs support education and awareness related to organ and tissue donation. In-services are available for health care professionals and the general public.
Educating our communities about the importance of organ and tissue donation is critical to saving lives. By learning the facts, individuals are empowered to not only make a decision regarding donation, but to communicate this wish to other family members.
To book an in-service, please contact your local program.
Potential areas of focus include:
We are also able to customize presentations.
Should you wish to learn more or request education related to organ and tissue donation, please contact the donation program nearest to your area.
Healthcare touches people at every stage of life. It is the support of generous residents like you that enhances the education, research, and health-care services in our province.
Local health foundations work in communities across Alberta to gather community support and develop partnerships. These dedicated groups are committed to helping build excellence and innovation within our system.
A gift to Alberta Health Services is an investment in the health of your community. Support can be directed specifically to the location and area of healthcare that you are passionate about.
The Alberta Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation Programs would like to sincerely thank all who have made financial donations. The generosity of financial donors has helped to enhance the quality of the Organ and Tissue Donation in Alberta.
Contributions are utilized in many different ways including ongoing staff development, public education, awareness activities, and equipment within our program.
Generously accepted c/o:
Southern Alberta Organ & Tissue Donation Program
Foothills Medical Center
1403 - 29th Street NW
Calgary, AB T2N 2T9Contributions to the Southern Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Program can also be made via the Calgary Health Foundation.
Generously accepted c/o:
Human Organ Procurement and Exchange Program (HOPE) and/or
Comprehensive Tissue Centre (CTC)
Room 9423, Aberhart Building
11402 University Avenue
Edmonton, AB T6G 2J3Contributions to the Edmonton Donation and Transplant Programs can also be made via the University of Alberta Hospital Foundation - Donate Now page.
Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry - My Health Alberta
ALTRA - Southern Alberta Transplant Program
American Association of Tissue Banks
Canadian Society of Transplantation
Canadian Organ Replacement Registry
Eye Bank Association of America
North American Transplant Coordinators Organization
We welcome your organ and tissue donation inquiries. For information related to organ and tissue donation please contact the program closest to you.
Healthcare Professionals Only
For immediate assistance with matters relating to organ and tissue referral please call the University of Alberta Hospital Switchboard @ 780-407-8822 and ask for the on-call Donor Coordinator or contact CTC Tissue Specialist on-call via RAAPID at 780-735-0811.
General Inquiries Related to Organ and Tissue Donation
Give Life Alberta
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Telephone: 403-910-2801
Email: GiveLifeAlberta@ahs.ca
Living Donor Services Edmonton and Area
Telephone: 780-407-8698
Tollfree: 1-866-253-6833
Email: livingdonors@ahs.ca
Healthcare Professionals Only
For immediate assistance with matters relating to organ and tissue referral please call the Foothills Medical Centre, Main Switchboard @ 403-944-1110 and ask for the on-call Donor Coordinator to be paged.
General Inquiries Related to Organ and Tissue Donation
Give Life Alberta
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Telephone: 403-910-2801
Email: GiveLifeAlberta@ahs.ca
Living Donor Services Calgary and Area
Telephone: 403-944-4635
