By Kaitlyn Thompson

Community Outreach Coordinator

Lifeline of Ohio

Through the Community Educator program, Lifeline of Ohio visits high school and college classrooms in central and southeast Ohio to educate students about the facts and myths surrounding organ, eye and tissue donation. Students’ curiosity about the details of the organ donation and transplant process frequently reflect questions we hear in our own communities. We share a few of those questions and answers below as a benefit to all readers.

Q: Can you choose to be an organ donor only when you die?

A: Being a registered organ donor, or saying ‘yes’ when you get your driver’s license at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, means you are agreeing to donate when you die. People can donate organs while they are living by arranging it with a hospital, such as the Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University. The organs that can be donated while a person is living are: kidney, lobe of the liver, lobe of the lung, part of the small intestine and very rarely, part of the pancreas. A person has to be over 18 years of age to be a living organ donor.