Tissue Donation

Every year, more than 2,000 people in Ontario have their lives enhanced or saved through transplantation of donated tissue. These are people who can see again thanks to cornea transplants, whose heart function is improved with valve transplants, who can get around on their own, their mobility restored by bone grafts, or those for whom skin grafts speed recovery from burns or accidents.

Despite all these successful donations, there is not nearly enough tissue donated to help all the people in Ontario who need it. And yet almost anyone of any age can be a tissue donor.

Tissue transplants improve and sometimes save lives, restoring people to healthier and more productive lives and letting them once again play an active part in their families and their communities.

You can help. Join the thousands in Ontario who have registered their consent to organ and tissue donation and talked about their decision with their families.

Becoming a Tissue Donor

Tissue donation can take place in most cases when someone has died, as long as the tissue is determined suitable for transplant by a doctor. With tissue donation, there is no need for blood flow to be maintained by artificial ventilation after death. An estimated 75% to 80% of people who die in hospitals are medically suitable for donating tissue.

Corneas, skin, bone, cardiovascular tissue (heart valves and veins) and connective tissue (tendons, ligaments) are the most common types of tissue transplanted. One tissue donor can improve the lives of as many as 75 individuals. Donated tissue is used for reconstructing bones and joints, for brain, heart and eye operations and for treating burns.

People sometimes say to themselves "Who'd want my skin; I'm too old" or "I wear thick glasses - my eyes can't be any good to anybody." But the fact is everyone is a potential donor, regardless of age. The oldest Canadian tissue donor was 102 and being near-sighted has no bearing on whether corneas and eye tissue might be of benefit. Doctors and other transplant team professionals are in the best position to decide if tissue can or can't be successfully used.

Tissue Donation - What Happens?

Almost anyone can donate tissue after death, depending on age, cause of death and medical/social history. If family members of a deceased patient are interested in the tissue donation option, the individual will be assessed and screened for donation suitability.

If tissues are suitable, those to be donated -- bones, tendons, veins, heart valves, skin, corneas and/or eye tissue -- are surgically removed with great care and respect to ensure the donation does not interfere with an open casket viewing for the donor. Also, since these procedures are carried out as soon as possible after death, they do not cause a significant delay in funeral arrangements.

Tissue for Transplantation