If you have a family member, relative or friend with a serious kidney or liver disease -- or if you have been approached by someone in need of a transplant -- you may have begun thinking for the first time about the possibility of being a living organ donor.

If so, here are some issues you may want to consider:

• How do I feel about organ donation?
• How does my religion view organ donation?
• Are there health issues that I should consider?
• Are there medical risks to being a living donor?
• Can I afford to be a living donor? What is it going to cost?

Other questions that you will want to consider include:

• What is my motivation for being a living donor?
• What impact would my decision have on my relationship with the person in need of an organ?
• Do I feel psychologically pressured to be a living donor?
• Would my "support network" stand by me whatever I decide?
• Does the person in need have other potential living donors?
• If there is more than one possible donor, how would the living donor be chosen?
• How would I feel if I offer to be a living donor, and am rejected?

The decision on whether to be a living donor is a huge one, and ultimately, it is your decision -- and yours alone. But many resources are available to help you think through these and other issues. Most major transplant centers have a counselor or social worker who will gladly answer you questions, and help assess your readiness to be a potential organ donor. Another resource are the transplant coordinators at your region's organ procurement organization, which you can find in the directory at the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) website.

All information provided in this site is offered for educational purposes only, and it is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your own physician or healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.