Category: Organ donation

While thousands of people are on the transplant waiting list, many potential donors hesitate to register, mistakenly believing their health history excludes them. In fact, few medical conditions are absolute barriers, and the final decision on **what diseases prevent you from donating organs** is always made by medical professionals at the time of death.

In 2021, over 116,000 people were on the organ transplant waiting list in the US alone, highlighting a dire shortage. This profound imbalance in supply and demand is widely considered to be **what is the biggest problem with organ transplants?**, overshadowing many other medical and logistical challenges.

According to the American Kidney Fund, a vast majority of the people on the national transplant waiting list are waiting for a kidney. This staggering statistic highlights which organ is most in demand for transplantation and the immense and ongoing challenge for those with kidney failure.

In 2024, over 48,000 organ transplants were performed in the U.S., with the vast majority made possible by deceased individuals, thereby answering the question: **where do most donated organs come from?** These donors, along with a significant contribution from living donors, form the foundation of the organ transplantation system.

According to Donate Life, a single organ and tissue donor can save and heal more than 75 lives. A critical factor in this process is knowing **what is the time limit for organ donation after death**, as the window for successful transplantation varies significantly depending on the specific organ and the circumstances of the donor's passing.

Medical advancements have dramatically improved post-transplant survival rates, transforming organ transplantation from an experimental procedure into a life-extending reality for thousands. Understanding how long can a person live with a transplanted organ involves considering many variables, from the type of organ to the patient's overall health.

Organ donation from individuals who have died from a drug overdose has seen a dramatic increase, becoming a significant source of donor organs due to the ongoing opioid crisis. So, **Can organs be donated after a drug overdose**? The answer is yes, and modern medicine has advanced to ensure these life-saving donations are both possible and safe for recipients.

While most organ donations occur posthumously, some organs can be donated by living individuals. So, **can you donate your intestine while alive**? The short answer is yes, though it is a rare and complex procedure with specific medical and ethical considerations.

While exceedingly rare, multiple cases of triple organ transplants have been successfully performed in medical history, with the first reported instance dating back decades. This highly complex and coordinated procedure represents one of modern medicine's most profound achievements, offering new hope to patients with multi-system organ failure. The answer to whether a triple organ transplant has ever happened is a definitive yes.

The pituitary gland, a tiny pea-sized organ at the base of the brain, plays a monumental role in controlling the body's hormones. While the question 'Can the pituitary gland be donated?' often arises with hopes of a life-saving transplant, the reality is more complex.