The Case for Donating a Kidney While You’re Still Alive

Would you ever donate a spare organ to someone else while you’re still alive? Probably not, given how few living organ donations happen these days. Kidneys, and more recently livers, are some of the only body parts that can be donated by someone living. Our bodies can function perfectly fine with one kidney, whereas the liver can grow back (doctors only take out a piece for transplantation). While there are some short-term risks—as with any surgery—and potential rare complications, studies have shown that the average kidney donor lives as long as they normally would have and likely with few, if any, long-term health effects (some studies have suggested a possible higher risk of conditions like hypertension or diabetes). Living kidneys also tend to survive longer in their new recipients than those from a deceased donor, lasting over 20 years in some cases. Transplant centers will find someone who you match with—and there will definitely be someone. Though living kidney donations hav ... Read full article.