Give Life Alberta
Organ and tissue donation aren’t the same—and depending on your situation, you may be able to give one, the other, or both.
Compared to deceased donation, living donation means much shorter wait times and typically better outcomes for transplant recipients.
Don’t count yourself out: each potential organ and tissue donor is evaluated by the medical team. You might be surprised by what you can donate.
No strict age limit for deceased organ donation in Alberta
The person’s type of death and health of their organs matter more than their age. Livers have been successfully transplanted from donors in their 80s; kidneys from donors in their 70s. For deceased tissue donation, the age limit is 81.
Medical conditions don't necessarily exclude you
Eligibility is assessed for each person at the end of life, including evaluating their condition, and their medical and social history. Donation criteria are always evolving.
There can be many questions when it comes to donating organs and tissues. Our FAQs aim to educate and dispel myths.
Organ Donation: Only 1-2% of people are eligible for organ donation at the end of their life. Organs can only be donated if the patient has been maintained on a ventilator (respirator) in a hospital prior to death.
Someone who is eligible to donate organs has usually had an unexpected death following severe injury to their brain. This could be the result of a motor vehicle accident, spontaneous brain bleeding, or trauma such as a fall.
Tissue Donation: Nearly everyone under the age of 81 can be considered for tissue donation after they die. Tissues do not require the same conditions as organs to survive, so tissue donation is possible even after a person’s heart and lungs have stopped working.
Tissues must be recovered within 15-24 hours after death. The donor does not need to be maintained on a ventilator; this means they can come from any setting, including but not limited to long-term care, hospice or palliative home care.
If the patient’s family has decided to proceed with donation, a Give Life Alberta staff member obtains formal consent from the legal next-of-kin. In some cases, patients planning for end of life can provide their own consent during their end-of-life planning (e.g. palliative care, MAID).
Your decision can save up to 8 lives and change 75 more. It starts with a two-minute registration — and a conversation with your family.
