One historical example of a private organization using this model is LifeSharers, which is free to join and whose members agree to sign a document giving preferred access to their organs. "The proposal [for an organ mutual insurance pool] can be easily summarized: An individual would receive priority for any needed transplant if that individual agrees that his or her organs will be available to other members of the insurance pool in the event of his or her death. … The main purpose [of this proposal] is to increase the supply of transplantable organs in order to save or improve more lives." Technical advances allows the use of donors that were previously rejected. For example, hepatitis C can be knowingly transplanted and treated in the organ recipient.In hospitals, organ network representatives routinely screen patient records to identify potential donors shortly in advance of their deaths. In many cases, organ-procurement representatives will request screening tests (such as blood typing) or organ-preserving drugs (such as blood pressure drugs) to keep potential donors organs viable until their suitability for transplants can be determined and family consent (if needed) can be obtained. This practice increases transplant efficiency, as potential donors who are unsuitable due to infection or other causes are removed from consideration before their deaths, and decreases the avoidable loss of organs. It may also benefit families indirectly, as the families of unsuitable donors are not approached to discuss organ donation. Distribution
The United States has two agencies that govern organ procurement and distribution within the country.
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.