Organ (heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and pancreas) donation can only be done on a donor who has been declared brain dead but whose other organs are kept functioning by sophisticated hospital machinery. Because brain death is not a common occurrence, viable organ donors are rare. Tissue donation (eyes, bone, skin, veins, heart valves, tendons, etc.) can occur even after the heart has ceased beating. Most deaths are potential tissue donors (depending on a medical, social history, etc.).

After a person has died, transplantable organs and tissue can be donated to help the lives of individuals in need.

If you would like more information about organ and tissue donation and transplantation, please call the New England Organ Bank at (800) 446-6362. You can also visit the website of the United Network for Organ Sharing at www.unos.org This site contains up-to-date statistical information, and links to government agencies and other transplant-related organizations.

Most major religions or religious organizations either actively support organ and tissue donation or leave the decision up to the individual. Those in doubt about their religion's views should talk with their faith leaders. Click for more information about religious views on organ donation.

Organ Donation in most cases, a person may only be able to donate organs where they have been declared brain dead in an intensive care unit in hospital. Brain death is when blood circulation to the brain ceases, and the brain stops functioning and dies with no possibility of recovery. A series of tests carried out by two independent and appropriately qualified senior doctors establishes that brain death has occurred.

No. The power of a health care agent to make health care decisions on your behalf ends upon your death. Noting your wishes on your Health Care Proxy form allows you to clearly state your wishes about organ and tissue donation.

Your medical condition at the time of death will determine if you can be a tissue and/or organ donor. A person is declared dead when one of two things occurs: 1) Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest and/or 2) Brain death. If a person dies due to a cardiac/respiratory arrest, where the heart has stopped pumping blood to the organs in the body then this person can be a potential tissue and eye donor.

All major religions consider organ and tissue donation as a gift of life to another person. If you have any questions you should consult your spiritual advisor.

No. Everyone should consider themselves a potential organ or tissue donor, regardless of their age. It is the health of the individual, not the age, which is the deciding factor.

No. The organ and tissue recovery is carried out like any other surgical procedure and the donor is treated with utmost respect and dignity. Funeral arrangements need not to be changed and if the family so chooses, an open casket is still possible.

Religious groups including Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths support organ and tissue donation as a charitable gift of life consistent with the basic tenets of their faiths.

Many people are uncomfortable talking about death. Explain to your loved ones how your decision to donate is about life and will offer hope to others whose lives can be saved or enhanced through transplantation.

No. Donation is a gift of life or sight to others. As such, eye, organ and tissue donations are consistent with the beliefs and attitudes of major religions. For more information regarding religious views toward donation or to see you religions view please follow this link No. Eye tissue is procured within hours of death, so families may proceed as planned with funeral arrangements.

Most national laws require that a coroner harvest any and all usable and viable tissue and organs. However, if you are next of kin AND if you notify us within four hours of our taking receipt of the body, harvesting can be stopped until a court reviews the matter.

All major religions fully support donation, and consider it an act of charity and love. Faiths that do not support organ and/or tissue donation are Shinto and Gypsy. Find your religion.