Living Organ Donation in Tennessee
Learn about living organ donation in Tennessee, including eligibility, the donation process, and resources for potential donors and transplant recipients.Living Organ Donation Matters
A living donor is someone who voluntarily donates an organ, or part of an organ, to a person in need of a transplant. The organs most often donated by living donors are one kidney or a portion of the liver.
Living organ donation offers several important benefits for recipients:
- Reduced wait time as recipients do not need to rely on the availability of an organ from a deceased donor. This often prevents long delays that can worsen health.
- Organs from living donors also typically function more effectively and for a longer duration.
- Because the surgery can be scheduled in advance, both the donor and recipient are able to prepare for the procedure and reduce uncertainty around timing.
Living organ donation is completely voluntary, and it should be a personal decision made with care and thoughtful consideration. Donors are encouraged to take their time, ask questions, and talk with their healthcare team, family, and support system as they navigate this decision.
Contacts
Insurance Related Questions
For insurance-related questions or issues related to living organ donation in Tennessee, contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
Toll-Free: 1-800- 342-4029
Being a Living Donor Candidate
To be a good candidate for a living donor, a person must be in good overall health. Before donation, every potential donor completes a thorough medical and psychological evaluation to ensure that the donation is safe and that they fully understand each step of the process. Living donation may be directed, meaning the donor selects the specific recipient, or nondirected, in which the organ goes to a patient the donor does not personally know.
Although living organ donation is considered safe for most people, it does involve risks. The specific risks can vary depending on the type of organ donated and the donor’s personal health. Short-term risks may include pain, infection, or bleeding after surgery. Donors need to allow adequate time for rest and recovery to decrease the risk of complications. Long-term risks involve potential health changes that may develop over time.
For example, kidney donors may have a higher chance of developing high blood pressure, while liver donors may experience digestive or intestinal concerns. While serious long-term complications are uncommon, lifelong follow-up with a healthcare provider is essential to monitor ongoing health. To fully understand any potential long or short term risks of living organ donation, you should have a discussion with a qualified healthcare practitioner.
Medical Costs of Being a Donor
In most cases, the medical costs related to the donation procedure, including medical testing, the surgery itself, and recovery, are covered by the recipient’s insurance plan. This helps reduce financial barriers for donors.
For insurance-related questions or issues, those involved may contact the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance at 615-741-2218 or 1-800-342-4029.
Helpful Resources
| Resource | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Donate Life Tennessee | Register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor |
| Tennessee Donor Services | Donation information, donor family support, and hospital coordination |
| Mid-South Transplant Foundation | Organ procurement organization serving West Tennessee |
| HRSA OrganDonor.gov | Federal information on organ donation and transplantation |
| Organ Procurement and Transportation Network (OPTN)| HRSA | National transplant policies, data, and waiting list information |
| United Network Organ Sharing (UNOS) | Education about transplantation and organ matching |
This Page Last Updated: July 1, 2026 at 2:22 PM