Who Can Donate Organs in India and When?

Organ donation in India operates within a defined medical and legal framework, yet awareness about who can donate and under what circumstances is variable. It is a known fact that the demand for organs is more than the supply. To close this gap, individuals must be willing and aware of how the organ donation system works.  

On this World Organ Donation Day, let’s understand the eligibility, process and the role of brain death certification in detail. 

Eligibility Of Organ Donation in India 

Not everyone qualifies to donate organs. The law and medical criteria together decide who can be a living or deceased donor. 

• They must be at least 18 years old. 
• Living donors can donate one kidney, part of the liver, or part of the pancreas. It is usually recommended for close relatives. Non-relative donations need special approval. 
• They must not have a serious heart disease, diabetes, advanced cancer, active infections, or severe organ damage. 
• Donors undergo psychiatric assessment to confirm voluntary consent and understanding of risks. 
• Deceased donors can give multiple organs and tissues if it is viable and the legal criteria are met. 

What is the Process for Organ Donation in India? 

Organ donation in India follows a structured medical and legal process to ensure transparency and safety. Let’s understand it in detail: 

• Living donation evaluation: Medical tests check donor and recipient compatibility and overall health before approval. 
• In India, brain death certification requires a panel of four doctors, including a treating physician, a hospital representative, a specialist, and a neurologist or neurosurgeon. The tests are conducted twice, six hours apart, to confirm the cessation of all brain functions, including the brainstem. The legal time of death is recorded as the time of the second test. The certification process is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994 and it's subsequent amendments. 
• Family consent: Legal donation proceeds only with family permission, even if the donor pledged earlier. 
• Coordination with NOTTO/ROTTO/SOTTO: These government bodies oversee organ allocation based on urgency, compatibility, and waiting list order. 

NOTTO (National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation) functions at the national level, creating policies and maintaining the central waiting list for fair allocation. ROTTO (Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation) manages organ distribution across several states in a region. SOTTO (State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation) oversees activities within a specific state, including hospital coordination and public awareness. 

• Time-sensitive retrieval: For sensitive organs like the heart or lungs, rapid transport (green corridors) is organized to maintain visibility. 

How to Register for Organ Donation in India? 

Pledging your organs is straightforward, and one can register for it online or offline. Here’s how: 

• Online portals: National platforms such as NOTTO and NGOs have digital registration, after which you receive a donor card. 
• State programs: Some states run dedicated registries, Karnataka’s Jeevasarthakathe is one such example. 
• Offline registration: Many hospitals with transplant facilities provide pledge forms during visits or public health drives. 
• Donor card role: The card records your intent but does not replace legal consent from your family. Hence, you must communicate your decision in advance. 
• Information accuracy: Correct contact and health details are crucial for quick coordination if the need arises. 

Brain Death and Organ Donation 

Brain death is a medically and legally recognised state in which the brain has permanently lost all functions, with the heart still beating with life-support systems. In India, brain death diagnosis requires confirmation by a panel of doctors in two separate examinations, which are several hours apart. 

This stage is significant because most life-saving organ donations, including heart, lungs, and liver, are only possible from brain-dead donors. If the patient is surviving on a ventilator after they are declared brain dead, organs can be retrieved in a viable condition.  

Without this recognition, opportunities for multiple organ donations are often missed, especially in hospitals with limited awareness or infrastructure. 

What Potential Organ Recipients Need to Know? 

For those awaiting a transplant, understanding the organ donation process in India is equally important. Recipients are matched based on medical urgency, blood group compatibility, tissue type, and geographic location. The national registry, maintained by NOTTO, helps ensure equitable allocation. 

However, waiting times are long for crucial organs like kidneys or hearts. Recipients should remain in regular contact with their transplant centre, keep their health stable, and respond immediately to calls for surgery. On the other hand, the cost for organ transplant must be considered as well because not all insurance covers the full costs of surgery. Hence, it is important to look at the finances as well. 

Post-transplant, recipients require lifelong immunosuppressive medication to prevent rejection, along with regular check-ups.  

Conclusion 

Organ donation in India is a medical service that is beyond a single operation. It is a coordinated effort between donors, families, doctors, and policy bodies. Whether as a living donor or through pledging after death, every decision adds to the pool of organs that can save lives. 

At Hinduja Hospital Khar, we support organ donation through awareness initiatives, counselling for donors and families, and close coordination with authorised state and national bodies to ensure the process is smooth, transparent, and ethical.  

On World Organ Donation Day, we reaffirm our commitment to building awareness and encouraging individuals to take an informed step toward pledging. If you wish to learn more about the process, register your pledge, or understand how to talk to your family about it, our team is here to guide you. Each pledge is a step closer to saving lives that are waiting. 

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) 

What is the time limit for organ donation? 

With proper medical support, organs can remain viable for 36–72 hours after death, but earlier retrieval increases their usability. 

When can you donate organs? 

People of any age can be organ donors if they meet medical criteria. One of the oldest organ donors in the United States was Cecil, who was 95 years old. 

How many organs can you donate at once? 

One donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and help up to 75 people through tissue donation.