Conditions and Approval Procedures of Organ Donations (Kidneys and Liver) from Live Donors

In 2003, the Transplantation Society of Australia and New Zealand, the Nephrology Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Kidney Institute of Australia formulated guidelines institutionalizing organ donations from live donors that are not family members of the donor. According to these guidelines:

It is prohibited to set conditions for organ donations with respect to specific population groups.

Donors must undergo psychological and medical examinations after which an assessment is submitted concerning the donor’s motive, suitability and consent. The examinations will be conducted by independent psychologists and doctors that are not related to the specific transplant.

The donor’s agreement will only be granted after he has received information verbally and in writing about the known risks related to the donation process and about the possibility that the transplant will fail. The donor will sign the informed consent form in accordance with the relevant state laws.

Throughout the donation and transplant process the transplant team and the medical team will take all reasonable measures to maintain the anonymity of the organ donor and recipient.

The law prohibits granting financial or any other type of incentive to an individual to encourage him to donate his organs. Nonetheless, the institution in which the transplant is conducted will carry the donor’s personal expenses such as hospitalization fees, transportation fees and accommodations.

Agreement to Donate Organs after Death

The Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR), established in 2000, manages a confidential list of Australian citizens, 16 years of age and above, who expressed their intent in writing with respect to donating their organs after their death.

As of July 1, 2005, the AODR will only register legally valid consent of adults to donate organs after their death. The intent of minors 16 and 17 years old with respect to their desire to donate organs will continue to be registered.

In the case of death, an authorized medical person, who signed confidentiality agreements, will check the Register databases and will inform the deceased’s family about the deceased’s desire to donate his organs.

 The family of a deceased individual who granted consent during his lifetime to donate his organs after his death will be requested to confirm that he did not change his mind since documenting his intent with the AODR. Notwithstanding, in practice, if the deceased’s family expresses its opposition to the donation, the deceased’s organs will not be harvested, even though legislation permits organ donations from the body of a deceased that granted his consent to donate his organs despite his family’s opposition.

The family of a deceased individual who expressed during his lifetime his opposition to donate organs after death will not be approached and the deceased’s organs will not be donated.

In the case of a deceased individual who was not registered with the AODR, the family’s consent is required for donating the deceased’s organs.

In the case of minors under 18 years of age – the consent of their parents is required to donate their organs after their death.