The potential live liver donors are carefully evaluated. The evaluation process is designed to prove that you have a normal, healthy liver and it would be safe for you to donate. Voluntarily donating one’s organ is one of the most unselfish acts of kindness. It should not be made under coercion/ persuasion and it is never too late to change one’s mind even if you have gone through the entire evaluation process. The health and safety of the donor is one of the most important criteria during the evaluation. The donor can live a normal lifestyle and does not have to take any long-term medication after the operation. Female live donors are advised to wait a minimum period of 3 months before getting pregnant and there are no specific risks relating to having children. Donating part of the liver does not reduce the donor’s lifespan nor does it increase the risk of developing liver disease or failure.
A donor has to meet the criteria, as stated below, in order to be considered:
- It has to be voluntary
- Should be ideally related to the recipient. If medically unsuitable, emotionally related donors are permissible after review by the hospital ethics committee. This is in accordance with the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) in Singapore
- Compatible blood group with that of the recipient or blood group O. The following table shows the compatibility between the 4 blood groups.
RECIPIENT’S BLOOD GROUP DONOR MUST BE A A or O B B or O AB A, B, AB or O O O only - Between the age of 21 to 55 years old
- No psychiatric illness or under treatment
- ree from Hepatitis B and C and HIV infection
- Should not have significant medical problem, e.g. heart, renal or liver problems or abnormalities, history of recent cancer, diabetes, deep vein thrombosis and bleeding problems
- Have adequate liver volume and suitable anatomy of the liver
- Not an active substance abuser, such as alcohol or drug abuse
- Not overweight/ obese, unless the donor is committed to losing weight
- Female donors should not be pregnant
Tel: 65-6476-2088