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Organ donation is the act of giving an organ to save or greatly improve someone else’s life. In some cases, a healthy person can donate an organ, such as a kidney, while they are still alive which is known as living organ donation. However, most organ donations take place after a person has died.
In Ireland, the organs that can be donated are:
You may be considered for an organ transplant if you have been diagnosed with end-stage organ disease, also known as organ failure. There are specific medical criteria you will need to meet, and your healthcare team will carefully assess whether a transplant is a suitable option for you. If you are approved for transplant surgery, you will be placed on the transplant waiting list. This is a shared pool of potential recipients, where all suitable deceased donor organs available for transplant in Ireland are matched to patients based on medical need and compatibility.
Organ donation is one of the greatest expressions of community and compassion. That is why it is known as the gift of life. There are currently more than 650 people on transplant waiting lists in Ireland, over 500 of them waiting for a kidney. Behind each figure is a person – on dialysis three times a week, waiting for a lung, a liver, a heart, a pancreas – and a family living with uncertainty and hope. When someone chooses to become an organ donor, they are offering strangers a precious second chance. It’s an act of generosity that ripples outwards. It helps patients, their families, their friends and their wider communities.
In general, organs are considered suitable for transplantation if the person dies between the ages of 1 and 75 years. Each potential donor is assessed individually, but this is the usual age range. For living donation, potential donors should usually be at least 25 years of age. There is no strict upper age limit, but older donors are less likely to pass the medical assessment, as advancing age can sometimes bring additional health issues that may affect donation
Ideally, a person who donates organs should not have any serious illnesses that could affect the safety of the transplant. This includes conditions such as cancer, very severe high blood pressure, or serious diseases affecting their organs. Each potential donor is carefully checked by doctors to make sure their organs are safe and suitable for someone else to receive.
It is still possible to become an organ donor if you smoke. Specialist healthcare professionals will carefully assess, case by case, whether a person’s organs and tissue are suitable for donation. Many smokers, and people with other health conditions, have saved – and continue to save – lives through organ donation.
Wearing glasses or living with diabetes does not automatically exclude you from being an organ donor. If you have not opted out of organ donation, the medical team will carefully assess, at the time of your death, which organs and tissues are suitable for transplantation.
In most cases, organ donation after death happens when someone suddenly becomes very unwell and loses consciousness. This might be due to a severe head injury, a brain haemorrhage or a brain tumour. The person must still be alive when they arrive at the hospital, and they are usually placed on a breathing machine (a ventilator) to support their breathing. Sometimes, despite all treatment, the person’s condition worsens and their brain stops working completely. This is called brain death. When brain death happens, the person is medically and legally dead, even if the breathing machine continues to move air in and out of their lungs. At this point, the hospital team will approach the next of kin to ask for permission to donate the person’s organs, if donation is possible and appropriate and the deceased has not opted out of organ donation. This will be done before the body is prepared for burial.
The term ‘brain death’ describes a situation where a person has a very severe brain injury and, even though a machine is helping them to breathe, all brain function has stopped completely and cannot recover. When doctors diagnose brain death, the law treats this as the same as death caused by the heart and circulation stopping. In other words, brain death is legally recognised as a person’s death.
When an organ becomes available for transplant, a specialist team in Beaumont Hospital looks for the best possible match for that organ. They carefully check the donor’s details against people on the transplant waiting list, working closely with the National Virus Reference Laboratory and the transplant hospital caring for the patient. Their aim is to make sure each organ goes to the person it will best help and who can safely receive it. If a suitable match cannot be found in Ireland, the organ may be offered to patients in the UK or other EU countries. This way, the gift of donation can still be used to save or greatly improve as many lives as possible, in keeping with the donor’s wishes.
Donating your organs does not change how your body looks, and it does not normally delay your funeral. If you or your family wish to have an open coffin funeral, there will be no visible signs that organs have been donated.
Yes, doctors will always try to save your life, whether you are a potential donor or not. When you come into hospital, the medical team looking after you is focused only on you – their job is to treat your illness or injury and do everything possible to help you recover. The people who are involved in your emergency care are completely separate from the transplant team. Organ donation is only considered after every effort has been made to save your life, and only if you have died according to strict medical and legal criteria. Your care comes first, always.
When a person dies, their family must agree before their organs can be donated. This is why it is so important to talk to your loved ones about your wishes around organ donation while you are still alive, so they feel confident about what you would have wanted. Your wishes should be at the heart of any decision that is made. The law (Human Tissue Act 2024 Part 2) explains who counts as a “designated family member”. In most cases, this is the person who has been the main point of contact with the doctors during the person’s illness or treatment. This family member is asked to give consent for organ donation. If consent is not given, or if no designated family member can be identified, then organ donation will not go ahead.
The designated family member is the person the doctors will speak to about organ donation. They will be asked either to confirm that there is no objection to donation and thus to give consent for it to go ahead. When making this decision, the designated family member must think carefully about what the person who has died would have wanted. To help with this, they might consider:
The Organ Donor Card is a simple way to show your decision to give the ‘Gift of Life’ after your death. By signing the card and keeping it with you, you are clearly recording your wish to be an organ donor.
Carrying the card can also help start an open conversation with your family and friends about organ donation. Talking about your wishes means your loved ones are better prepared and more confident in honouring your decision if the time ever comes.
Most organ donations come from people who have died. However, you can donate certain organs while you are still alive. This is called living organ donation. As part of the living donor programme, you can choose to donate one of your kidneys to someone on the kidney transplant waiting list. In most cases, a living donor donates to a family member or close friend. Under the Human Tissue Act 2024, you can donate a kidney to someone you do not know. This is called non-directed altruistic living organ donation. This process usually takes longer than donating to a relative or close friend, because there are extra checks and matching steps involved.
Living liver donation means that part (a lobe) of a healthy person’s liver is removed and transplanted into someone who needs a new liver. This is most often a parent donating part of their liver to their child.
There is no programme currently in Ireland for living liver donors..
Adult liver transplants are carried out in St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin from deceased donors. Children who need a liver transplant are usually treated in King’s College Hospital in London.
There are cases where living donor liver transplants for children have been arranged abroad and are often supported through the Treatment Abroad Scheme.
As part of the living donor programme, a person may be able to donate a kidney to someone on the kidney transplant waiting list. A person is suitable to be a living donor if they are able to stay well and live a healthy life with just one kidney. To become a living donor, you must understand exactly what is involved and give your clear, informed consent.
Living donation is generally very safe. Research has shown that the risk of having serious health problems in the future, such as kidney disease, after donating a kidney is very low. Some donors may notice a small increase in blood pressure or a little more protein in their urine, but this usually does not affect their long-term health. The kidney team in Beaumont Hospital will look after all living kidney donors with regular check-ups once a year, for life. This helps to pick up any health issues early. These check-ups can be done in Beaumont or in a local kidney (renal) clinic closer to where the donor lives. It is still important to remember that the operation to remove a healthy kidney is a major surgery and carries the same risks as any big operation. Doctors and nurses take every possible precaution, but there are always some risks when you have surgery. There are also day-to-day and practical things to think about. Donors will need time off work for tests before the operation, and more time off afterwards to recover. You may also need to plan for home and family responsibilities, such as childcare, housework, or caring for others. During the assessment, a number of tests are carried out. Sometimes these tests can uncover a medical problem that was not known about before. This might need further investigation and could mean that a person is not able to go ahead with donation.
All major religions support organ donation for transplantation as a good and generous act. In the Catholic Church, the Pope has described organ donation as ‘a noble act that should be governed by fair and transparent criteria, avoiding any form of commodification of the human body.’ The Church of Ireland also supports organ donation. It teaches that giving is a key part of being a Christian – whether that is giving money, time or part of yourself. Donating organs, either after death or as a living donor, is seen as a very special form of giving, as long as it is voluntary and freely chosen. Most Islamic religious leaders agree that organ donation is allowed, both during life (if it does not seriously harm the donor) and after death, when it is done to save another person’s life. In Judaism, saving a life is one of the most important values. Donating an organ while you are alive, such as a kidney, to save or greatly improve someone else’s life is seen as a very good deed. Donating organs after death is also viewed very positively and can even be considered a duty, as long as it is clear that the organs will actually be used to save lives. Buddhism does not give a single clear rule for or against organ donation. Different Buddhist traditions may understand the exact moment of death in different ways, so people may have different views about when it is acceptable to remove organs. Overall, organ donation is seen as a personal choice, guided by the individual’s own wishes and understanding. In Hinduism, organ donation is usually regarded very positively. Hindus believe strongly in life after death and in rebirth. The law of Karma – that our actions shape our future – is very important. Choosing to donate organs to save or transform another person’s life is often seen as a very good and generous action, which may bring positive karmic effects for the soul on its journey.
Organ donation is widely considered to be ethical. Part 2 of the Human Tissue Act 2024, which came into effect on 17 June 2025, sets out, for the first time, a clear national law for how organ donation and transplant services work in Ireland. Under this law, all adults in Ireland are now treated as having agreed to be organ donors when they die, unless they have formally said “no” by adding their name to the Organ Donation Opt-Out Register, or they belong to one of the excluded groups set out in the law. It is very important to stress that families will always be spoken to before any donation goes ahead. Doctors will never simply take organs without talking to the next of kin. This approach is called a “soft opt-out” system. Families will continue to be fully involved in a careful, safe and respectful process. However, the known wishes of the person who has died should guide the final decision as much as possible. Most people in Ireland support organ donation. The new system changes the default position to reflect this general public attitude. At the same time, the Opt-Out Register is there to make sure that anyone who does not wish to donate can record that choice clearly, so that their personal rights, wishes and bodily integrity are fully respected.
Donating your organs does not change how your body looks, and it does not normally delay your funeral. If you or your family wish to have an open coffin funeral, there will be no visible signs that organs have been donated.
A child can be an organ donor and there is a great need for children’s organs in Ireland. Many children waiting for a transplant need smaller organs such as hearts, lungs or kidneys that match a child’s size and weight. These are often only available from other children. Deemed consent does not apply to anyone under 18 years of age. For children, organ donation can only go ahead if a parent or legal guardian gives permission. This means that, if a child dies and organ donation is being considered, the doctors will always speak with the parents or guardians, who make the decision on the child’s behalf.
Deemed consent does not apply to anyone under 18 years of age. For children, organ donation can only go ahead if a parent or legal guardian gives permission. This means that, if a child dies and organ donation is being considered, the doctors will always speak with the parents or guardians, who make the decision on the child’s behalf.
Yes, teenagers can carry an Organ Donor Card. In fact, anyone under the age of 18 can choose to carry one. The Organ Donor Card is a visual representation of your decision to give the ‘Gift Of Life’ in the event of your death. By signing the card and carrying it with you, you are documenting your wishes to be an organ donor. However, the law is different for people under 18. Deemed consent does not apply to children or teenagers. Even if you carry a donor card, organ donation can only happen if your parent or legal guardian gives permission at the time. If a young person under 18 dies and organ donation is being considered, the doctors will always talk to the parents or guardians. They will explain everything and, in the end, it is the parents or guardians who make the final decision on the child’s behalf.
You can get an Organ Donor Card through the Irish Kidney Association website. You can choose either:
Both options clearly show your wish to be an organ donor and can help your family and healthcare team to understand your decision.
There is no opt-in register for organ donation. If you want to be an organ donor, you do not need to sign up anywhere. The most important thing is to talk to your next of kin – usually your closest family member or the person who would speak for you in a medical emergency. Tell them clearly that you want to be an organ donor. If you only want to donate certain organs, tell them that too. Your next of kin will be asked for consent, and they can then pass on your wishes so they can be respected as much as possible.
Yes, you can change your decision about organ donation at any time. If you put your name on the opt-out register before and you change your mind, you can remove your name from the register whenever you wish. If you decide in the future that you do not want to be an organ donor, you can add your name to the opt-out register at any time. Your choice is always your own and you can update it as your feelings or circumstances change.
The Human Tissue Act 2024 came into effect on 17th June 2025. It brings together rules on several sensitive areas: organ, tissue and cell donation and transplantation, post-mortem (after death) examinations, the study of bodies for medical teaching, and the public display of bodies after death. The first phase of the Act focuses on organ, tissue and cell donation and transplantation. The main changes are:
If you are 18 or over, the law will now treat you as having deemed to have consented to being an organ donor when you die, unless you choose to opt out, or you fall into one of the groups excluded by the law. This automatic consent only applies to certain organs, called “relevant organs” in the Act. These are: liver, lung, pancreas, heart and kidney. Your family’s consent will still be required before any organ donation takes place. For all other organs, tissues or cells, your family’s consent will still be needed, just as before. Consent remains central. It is still your decision whether you wish to be an organ donor. If you want to be an organ donor, you do not need to do anything. Consent will be presumed unless you have put your name on the HSE’s Opt-Out Register to show that you do not want your organs donated. If you do not want to be an organ donor, you can add your name to this Opt-Out Register. If your name is on the Register, your family will not be asked about organ donation after your death and organ donation will not take place.
There are currently more than 650 people on transplant waiting lists in Ireland, over 500 of them waiting for a kidney.
How long you might wait for an organ transplant depends on a number of factors including the type of organ you need, how urgent your medical situation is, your blood group, your body size, and when a suitable organ becomes available.
At the moment in Ireland, people who are waiting for a kidney from a deceased donor wait on average about three years.
When an organ becomes available for transplantation, several factors are used to decide who is the best match to receive it. These include the blood group of both donor and recipient, how long a person has been on the transplant waiting list, and how well the donor and potential recipient are matched.
Other things that are taken into account include the ages of the donor and recipient, and the recipient’s antibody level.
Some patients develop antibodies because of pregnancies, a previous organ transplant, or blood transfusions. An organ transplant can only go ahead if the recipient does not have antibodies against the donor. Your doctor can tell you what percentage of antibodies you have. This can give you some idea of how long you might have to wait. People with high antibody levels usually have to wait longer than those with few or no antibodies.
Patients on the waiting list who become very seriously ill and whose situation is life-threatening may be reviewed by a panel of doctors and can be given priority for a transplant.
Myth
If I agree to donate my organs, the hospital staff won’t work as hard to save my life
When you go to the hospital for treatment, the healthcare team tries to save your life, not someone else’s. You get the best care you can get.
Myth
Maybe I won’t really be dead when they sign my death certificate.
This is a popular myth but in reality people don’t start to wiggle their toes after a healthcare provider says they’re dead. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are giv en more tests to make sure they’re dead than those who aren’t donating organs.
Myth
Organ donation is against my faith.
Most major faiths accept organ donation. These include Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, most branches of Judaisim and most Protestant faits. Some religions believe organ donation to be an act of charity. If you don’t know where your faith stands on organ donation, ask a member of your clergy.
Myth
I am younger than 18 and so am too young to make this decision.
If you die before your 18th birthday, your parents or legal guardian will make the decision. If you want to be an organ donor, make sure your family knows your wishes. Remember, children too need organ transplants. They often need organs smaller than adult size.
Myth
People who donate organs or tissues can’t have an open-casket funeral.
Donors’ bodies are treated with care and respect. They are dressed for burial and no one can see that they donated organs or tissues.
Myth
I am too old to donate. Nobody will want my organs.
There is no standard cutoff age for donating organs. The decision to use your organs is based on the health of your organs, not your age. Let the healthcare team decide at the time of your death whether your organs and tissues can be transplanted.
Myth
I am not in the best of health. Nobody will want my organs or tissues.
Very few medical conditions keep you from donating organs. Maybe you can’t donate some organs but other organs and tissues are fine. Let the healthcare team suggest at the time of your death whether your organs and tissues can be transplanted.
Myth
Very few medical conditions keep you from donating organs. Maybe you can’t donate some organs but other organs and tissues are fine. Let the healthcare team suggest at the time of your death whether your organs and tissues can be transplanted.
It is normal medical practice to vaccinate against infectious diseases prior to transplant surgery. For example, Hepatitus B and C are routinely vaccinated against prior to surgery. Post transplant, patients take medication in order to reduce the risk of organ infection. This leads to a compromised immune system which reduces the ability to recover from infections. There is overwhelming evidence that organ transplant recipients are extremely vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus with mortality rates of 20% recorded in many countries. All patients suitable for transplantation will remain on the transplant programme regardless of their vaccination status. If they are called for an organ transplant, an individual risk assessment will be carried out to make sure the benefits of the surgery outweigh the risks.
The Role of the Family in Organ Donation
It has always been the case that in the event that someone is identified as a potential organ donor (they have been declared brain-stem dead when on a life-support machine in an Intensive Care Unit) their family is approached for consent to retrieval of the organs for transplantation. This role remains with the commencement of the Human Tissue Act.
The Donor Card
The Organ Donor Card is a visual representation of your decision to give the ‘Gift Of Life’ in the event of your death. By signing the card and carrying it with you, you are documenting your wishes to be an organ donor.
The card plays an important role in initiating the ‘Organ Donation Conversation’ with your loved ones. Discussing your wishes openly ensures that your family understands and honours your decision.
Organ Donation In Ireland
Learn more about the process and benefits of organ donation.
Organ Donation
Learn more about organ donation and The Human Tissue Act
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore FAQs covering Organ Donation, Transplantation, and Organ Donor Cards.
Resources
Download presentations and Human Tissue Act Resources
Education Pack
Bring Organ Donation Into Education
An education pack, including video, developed by students from
Eureka Secondary School in Kells, Co. Meath is available.