Kidney transplant program

Altruistic (Good Samaritan) Living Donor Process

Children's Memorial Hospital recognizes that each year the gap between the number of deceased donor organs and the number of recipients waiting for these organs increases. It is the policy of Children's Memorial to evaluate all potential living organ donors to help identify additional opportunities for transplantable organs. The evaluation and acceptance procedures are designed to protect and inform the donor and to respect the privacy of both the donor and recipient. Living organ donation is a medically and ethically acceptable procedure. The medical team at Children's Memorial is committed to uphold established ethical standards for organ donation and will not compromise these ethical standards to expand the organ donor pool. Generally, living donors have a long-term relationship with the patient; however, Children's Memorial will consider individuals who have no relationship with potential recipients. Those that are interested in altruistic, or Good Samaritan, donation will be required to meet the following requirements: 

1. Potential altruistic donors must satisfy the same evaluation criteria as used by all directed living donors at Children's Memorial. A detailed psychosocial evaluation is mandated to exclude an underlying psychiatric disorder and to insure that the donor is truly making an informed decision about donation. This psychosocial evaluation will include, but is not limited to:

   1. History and current status (educational level, living situation, cultural background, employment, religious beliefs and practice)
   2. Capacity to comprehend information related to donation
   3. Psychological status
   4. Relationship with the transplant candidate, if any
   5. Motivation
   6. Donor knowledge, understanding and preparation
   7. Social support
   8. Financial suitability
2. All potential living donors, including related and unrelated, non-directed and directed, will be evaluated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH), and this evaluation will be conducted by an independent organ transplant team that is not involved with the care of the potential recipients at Children's Memorial.
3. Children's Memorial requires that all potential altruistic living donors be at least 18 years of age, free of coercion, capable of independently making the decision to donate, and medically suitable to donate. 
4. The donor must also be able to demonstrate personal resources including health care benefits that would support himself or herself in the event of an unexpected complication following the donation procedure. In situations where the donor is the primary care-giver and/or financial support for children less than the age of eighteen, the donor must be able to demonstrate adequate alternative methods for care and support of these young dependents in the event of an unexpected complication.
5. All potential non-directed donors will be informed of their ability to withdraw from the organ donation process at any point during the evaluation.
6. In all cases of non-directed organ donations, the anonymity of both the recipient and donor will be maintained at least until after the transplant procedure. The transplant team will facilitate communication between both parties after the transplant procedure only if agreed upon by both recipient and donor.

In an effort to maintain consistency and equity, all individuals interested in being an organ donor will follow the same process.

1. A potential altruistic donor contacts Children's Memorial through this website to express their interest in donation.

2. The potential altruistic donor will be asked to provide the following information:

   1. A copy of ABO (blood type) status from a certified medical provider
   2. Age, height, and weight
   3. Recent blood pressure reading
3. Once contact is made with our team and the above information is provided, the potential donor is responsible for contacting the transplant team after that 30 day period is over, to confirm desire to donate.  A written letter of intent along with a health history form will need to be completed by the potential donor.
4. If the patient meets all general selection criteria and the Potential Donor Screening Form and written letter of intent have been reviewed by CMH staff, a full medical and psychological evaluation will be initiated.
5. The potential living donor evaluation will occur once a potential recipient has been identified.

Communication between Donor/Recipient 

Children's Memorial will maintain patient confidentiality of both the donor and the recipient throughout the transplant process.  No direct communication will occur between the donor and the recipient before the transplant procedure is complete.  Communication following the transplant procedure will be directed through the Children's Memorial Hospital and will only occur with the consent of both the non-directed donor and recipient.  If you are interested in being an organ donor, please complete this form.