Every year August 13 is observed as World Organ Donation Day to raising awareness about the importance of organ donation. Process in the United States
Organ donors are usually dead at the time of donation, but may be living. For living donors, organ donation typically involves extensive testing before the donation, including psychological evaluation to determine whether the would-be donor understands and consents to the donation. On the day of the donation, the donor and the recipient arrive at the hospital, just like they would for any other major surgery.For dead donors, the process begins with verifying that the person is undoubtedly deceased, determining whether any organs could be donated, and obtaining consent for the donation of any usable organs. Normally, nothing is done until the person has already died, although if death is inevitable, it is possible to check for consent and to do some simple medical tests shortly beforehand, to help find a matching recipient.The verification of death is normally done by a neurologist (a physician specializing in brain function) that is not involved in the previous attempts to save the patients life. This physician has nothing to do with the transplantation process. Verification of death is often done multiple times, to prevent doctors from overlooking any remaining sign of life, however small. After death, the hospital may keep the body on a mechanical ventilator and use other methods to keep the organs in good condition. The donors estate and their families are not charged for any expenses related to the donation.
250 Canadians die on average waiting for transplant organs every year.Each province has different methods and registries for intent to donate organs or tissues as a deceased donor. In some provinces, such as Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick organ donation registration is completed by completing the "Intent to donate" section when applying or renewing ones provincial medical care. In Ontario, one must be 16 years of age to register as an organ and tissue donor and register with ServiceOntario. Alberta requires that a person must be 18 years of age or older and register with the Alberta Organ and Tissue Donation Registry. Opt-out donation in Canada
Nova Scotia, Canada, is the first jurisdiction in North America that will be introducing an automatic organ donation program unless residents opt out; this is known as presumed consent. The Human Organ and Tissue Act was introduced on April 2, 2019. When the new legislation is in effect, all people who have been Nova Scotia residents for a minimum of 12 consecutive months, with appropriate decision-making capacity and are over 19 years of age are considered potential donors and will be automatically referred to donation programs if they are determined to be good candidates. In the case of persons under 19 years of age and people without appropriate decision-making capacity, they will only be considered as organ donors if their parent, guardian or decision-maker opts them into the program.