Organ and Tissue Donation

Trillium Gift of Life Network
Trillium Gift of Life Network is a not-for-profit agency of the Government of Ontario and is responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating and supporting organ and tissue donation across Ontario and improving the system so that more lives can be saved.

Organ and tissue donation for transplantation is a critical component of our healthcare system. Not only does organ and tissue donation improve the lives of thousands of people each year, it saves lives. It also provides families the opportunity to honour a loved one's wish to donate.

Why Donate?
Every three days someone on the organ transplant waiting list dies. There is a chronic shortage of organs and tissue in Ontario and the need for organs and tissue continues to outweigh their availability. More than 1,700 Ontarians are waiting for an organ transplant and many others are waiting for a tissue transplant.

Everyone is a potential organ and tissue donor, regardless of their age. To date, the oldest Canadian organ donor was over 90 years of age while the oldest tissue donor was 102 years old. Ultimately the ability to become an organ and tissue donor depends on several factors including the health of the organs and tissue at the time of death. Recovery of organs and tissue is carried out with respect and dignity. It does not interfere with funeral practices and no one will know about your gift of life unless your family tells them. Organs and tissue that can be donated after death include the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, small bowel, stomach, corneas, heart valves, bone and skin. Studies show that donating the organs and tissue of a loved one who has died can provide immediate comfort and long-lasting consolation to family members in their grieving.

Culture and religion play a significant role in end-of-life experiences, including how people respond to illness, how grief is demonstrated, what rituals are important at death and which members of the family are present.

Most religious groups endorse organ donation and/or respect the individual's choice. Beliefs about tissue donation vary as some groups may consider tissue donation life enhancing, and distinguish it from organ donation which is more often life saving.

Organ and tissue donation saves lives. Please talk to your family today.
For more information please visit the Trillium Gift of Life Network website at:
www.giftoflife.on.ca