Liver Donor Search Tips

The following tips can help make your search more effective and increase your chances of finding a living liver donor:

Do not rule anyone out as a potential donor. If you know someone who might be willing to donate but you feel they have a health condition that would prevent them from donating, encourage them to get tested and let the transplant center determine if they are healthy enough to donate. For example, many transplant centers do not have age limits for donors or offer programs to help people become healthy enough to donate.

Be prepared to share some general information about liver donation. When you are asking people to become a donor, they will have questions about the process. Your coach can help you write a brief overview to share with potential donors.

Tell potential donors about Liver Donor Shield. Many donor support options, such as lost wage reimbursement and donor expense reimbursement for donation-related travel, lodging, and dependent care, are available to living donors. Visit the Donor Shield website to learn more.

Always use your microsite link when sharing your story. This link allows potential donors to easily and confidentially contact your transplant center directly to get screened for donation.  

Never say you have a donor until the surgery is done. Things happen, medical issues occur, donors back out, and surgery can be cancelled. Saying you have a donor prematurely will turn away other potential donors.

Don’t try to talk someone into donating. If someone says no, their mind is made up. Thank them for listening and move on to other potential donors.

Tell your champions to share their reason for not donating. This is one of the first questions a potential donor will think about when approached by a champion, so champions should have a clear reason why they can’t donate.