What Disqualifies You From Being an Organ Donor?

September 21, 2025 •

5 min read

Over 100,000 Americans are currently on the waiting list for an organ transplant, yet many potential donors wrongly assume a health issue disqualifies them. Understanding what disqualifies you from being an organ donor is crucial, as eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis by medical professionals, not by age or a single diagnosis.

Quick Summary

Eligibility for organ donation is not based on self-diagnosis; a medical team makes the determination at the time of donation, assessing each organ individually for suitability. Active systemic infections or uncontrolled, widespread cancers are common disqualifiers, while many other chronic conditions are not automatic barriers to giving the gift of life.

Key Points

Medical Team Determines Eligibility: A team of medical professionals assesses each organ's viability at the time of death, not based on your initial registration.
Active vs. Managed Conditions: While active systemic infections or widespread cancer are typical disqualifiers, a history of health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or a successfully treated cancer does not automatically prevent donation.
No Age Limit for Deceased Donation: Eligibility is based on the health of your organs, not your chronological age. Even seniors can become donors.
Living Donor Rules are Stricter: Living donors must be in excellent physical and mental health to ensure their safety, undergoing a much more rigorous screening process.
Never Assume You're Disqualified: Don't let a medical myth stop you. Registering as a donor allows medical experts to make the final determination, potentially saving lives.

Understanding the Evaluation Process

The most important thing to know about organ donation eligibility is that it's not a decision you or your family make based on your health history alone. Even if you've signed up on a donor registry, a complete medical evaluation is conducted by professionals at the time of donation to determine which organs and tissues are viable. This happens after all lifesaving efforts have been exhausted and death has been declared. While certain conditions are definitive disqualifiers, others are evaluated based on their severity and impact on organ function.

Key Disqualifying Medical Conditions

Certain severe and active medical conditions are likely to prevent organ donation. These are typically cases where the disease could be transmitted to the recipient or where the organ's function has been compromised beyond repair. Eligibility is complex and evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but some conditions are almost certain to be disqualifiers.

Active, Spreading Cancer

Donation from an individual with active, systemic cancer (one that has spread throughout the body) is generally not possible, as it carries a high risk of transmitting the cancer to the recipient. However, a history of cancer does not automatically disqualify you. Successfully treated, localized cancers like basal cell skin cancer or early-stage breast cancer might not pose a problem for donation, especially if the individual has been cancer-free for several years. Each case is assessed based on the specific type of cancer and its treatment history.

Systemic Infectious Diseases

While medical advances are changing guidelines, certain severe or infectious diseases are typical disqualifiers to protect the recipient. Some historical examples included:

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), although recent advancements under the HOPE Act (HIV Organ Policy Equity) now permit organ transplantation between HIV-positive donors and HIV-positive recipients.
Active viral hepatitis (Hepatitis B or C), though some organs from donors with hepatitis might be used for recipients who also have the virus.
Active tuberculosis (TB).
Severe, uncontrolled systemic infections.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), also known as "Mad Cow Disease."

Significant Organ Damage

Conditions that cause irreversible damage to the organs can make them unsuitable for transplant. Examples include:

Severe, uncontrolled heart disease that has led to heart failure.
Extensive liver cirrhosis or severe kidney failure.
Advanced, irreversible lung disease.

Lifestyle and Behavioral Factors

Beyond specific diseases, certain lifestyle factors can be assessed during the donation evaluation. These are not always automatic disqualifiers but are considered to ensure the health of the donated organs and the safety of the recipient.

Substance Abuse: A history of intravenous drug use, or a recent or severe history of substance abuse, will be evaluated due to the increased risk of infectious diseases. The state of the organs, such as the liver or heart, will be carefully assessed.
High-Risk Activities: Behaviors that expose an individual to a high risk of transmissible diseases are considered during evaluation. The medical team will take a social history to assess these risks.

Living vs. Deceased Organ Donation

The criteria for living donation are far more stringent than for deceased donation because the donor must be alive and healthy enough to undergo surgery and live a full life with one fewer organ. For deceased donation, the priority is to salvage as many viable organs and tissues as possible.


Factor	Living Donor	Deceased Donor
Health Criteria	Excellent physical and mental health. Must be free of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.	Medical team assesses at time of death. Many conditions are not automatic disqualifiers.
Age	Typically between 18 and 60, though this varies by transplant center and organ.	No age limit. Health of organs is paramount.
Evaluation Process	Extensive medical and psychological testing, including imaging, blood tests, and interviews with social workers and doctors.	A rapid, but thorough, assessment by medical professionals at the time of death based on medical records and the condition of the organs.
Infections	Must be free of infectious diseases like HIV, Hepatitis, and uncontrolled chronic infections.	Organs with some infections may be used if the recipient also has the infection (e.g., HIV to HIV).

Dispelling Common Myths

Misconceptions about eligibility cause many to opt out of the donor registry. Here are some common myths that are simply not true:

"I'm too old to donate." There is no upper age limit for deceased organ donation. The oldest donor on record was over 90. The health of your organs, not your chronological age, determines eligibility. Learn more about the role of age in organ donation.
"My pre-existing condition means I can't donate." The vast majority of medical conditions do not automatically disqualify you. A person with high blood pressure, diabetes, or even a past cancer history can often still donate, though some organs may be unusable. The medical team evaluates every potential donor on a case-by-case basis.
"My organs were damaged from smoking or alcohol use." While heavy smoking and drinking can damage organs, it's not an automatic disqualifier. A heavy drinker might have a healthy heart and lungs, for instance. The medical team will assess each organ's condition individually.
"Doctors won't try as hard to save me if I'm a donor." Your status as an organ donor is not known to the emergency medical team treating you. The sole priority is saving your life. Organ donation is only considered after all life-saving measures have been exhausted and death has been declared.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict is Medical, Not Personal

Ultimately, the decision of whether a person can be an organ donor is made by a medical team, not by the individual based on their own health history. By registering as a donor, you are leaving the final medical assessment to the experts, allowing for the possibility of saving lives. This ensures that every potential donor is given a fair and thorough evaluation, maximizing the opportunity to provide life-saving transplants to those in desperate need. Don't let a misconception prevent you from signing up. Leave the medical details to the professionals. After all, one donor can save up to nine lives through organ donation, and many more through tissue and cornea donation.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, not automatically. Under the HOPE Act, individuals with HIV can donate organs and tissue to HIV-positive recipients. The medical team will assess the overall health of the organs to determine suitability.

It depends on the type and extent of the cancer. Active, spreading cancer generally disqualifies you. However, many people who have been successfully treated for cancer, especially localized types, can still donate. The decision is made by the medical team at the time of donation.

No, there is no age limit for deceased organ donation. What matters is the health of your organs and tissues. The medical team will evaluate your organs on a case-by-case basis at the time of death.

Not necessarily. A history of intravenous drug use is a serious risk factor, but drug and alcohol use alone don't automatically disqualify you. The medical team assesses the health of your organs, which may be impacted by substance use, at the time of donation.

Mild illnesses like a cold or flu are unlikely to affect eligibility for organ donation. Serious infections, however, will be considered by the medical team. Tissue donation may be temporarily deferred in cases of temporary illness.

No, having diabetes does not automatically disqualify you. While your pancreas may not be a viable donation, other organs like your heart or kidneys could still be suitable for transplant. Eligibility is determined organ by organ.

No. When you are being treated by an emergency medical team, your status as a registered organ donor is not a consideration. The sole priority of healthcare professionals is to save your life. Organ donation is only considered after all life-saving efforts have been exhausted.