What Organs and Tissues can be donated?
Being A Donor After Brain Death
Transplant involves replacing a failing organ or tissue with
a healthy one from a donor. Organs and tissues can be
recovered from both living and deceased donors.
Brain death means that there is no flow of blood or oxygen
to the brain and therefore, the brain cannot function in its
capacity and never will again.
Organ and Tissue Transplant
After brain death, if the patient is supported on a ventilator,
organs such as the heart, kidneys or liver may still function
for a brief period of time.
Living Donor
Deceased Donor
Organs
(e.g. Kidney, Liver)
Tissues
(e.g. Heart Valves)
Organs
(e.g. Kidney, Liver,
Pancreas, Heart, Lung)
Tissues (e.g. Skin,
Corneas, Heart Valves)
Legislations on Organ and Tissue Donation
in Singapore
HOTA
(Human Organ Transplant Act)
Allows for the kidneys, liver, heart and corneas to
be recovered in the event of death for the purpose
of transplantation.
All Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents
21 years old and above, who are not mentally
disordered, are included under HOTA unless they
have opted out.
MTERA
Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act
Allows for any person above 18 years old to pledge
to donate their organs and tissues, or any body part
or the whole body for the purpose of transplantation,
education or research upon death.
For more details on HOTA and MTERA, visit www.liveon.sg or
contact the National Organ Transplant Unit at +65 6321 4390.
Patients must meet all seven strict clinical criteria as
confirmed by two independent doctors before death can be
certified. Only when the patient is declared dead, donation
is an option.
1
After brain death is established
2
Transplant coordinator explains
to family about organ donation
3
To donate more than what is
covered under HOTA, family
members can consent on behalf
of donor under MTERA
Being A Donor After Circulatory Death
Circulatory death (previously known as cardiac death)
occurs when the heart stops beating permanently.
At this point, all vital functions of the body stop
and vital organs will quickly become unusable for
transplantation. However, tissues such as corneas, skin
and heart valves can be donated within 7 to 15 hours
of death.
1
2
3
After circulatory death is established
Transplant coordinator explains
to family members about tissue
donation
If a patient has not made a pledge
under MTERA, family members
can consent on his or her behalf to
donate
4
Donor’s suitability is assessed
5
4
Donor’s suitability is assessed
5
Selection of solid organ recipients
Tissues are recovered, processed
and stored for transplantation to save
more lives
6
Recovery of suitable organs
and tissues to save more lives
During cornea donation, only the cornea and not
the whole eye is removed.
Up to 7 lives can be
saved by 1 donor.
Skin is only recovered from concealed areas of
the back and lower limbs.
What is Haematopoietic Stem Cell Donation?
What is Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant?
Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Donation
Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the process by
which blood stem cells collected from the bone marrow,
peripheral blood or cord blood are infused into patients
following a preparative course of chemotherapy and/or
radiotherapy (known as conditioning).
Anyone between 17 and 49 years old who is in good general
health can sign up as a bone marrow donor. If identified as
compatible with a patient, the donor will be seen by a doctor
who will conduct a thorough medical examination, discuss
the differences between bone marrow and peripheral blood
stem cell donation and answer any questions.
Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Myth: Doctors won’t save me if I am
an organ donor.
For more details, visit the Bone Marrow Donor Programme website
at www.bmdp.org or call +65 6340 1040.
Cord Blood Donation
Singapore’s public cord blood bank offers expectant
parents the option to donate cord blood after the delivery
of their baby. Cord blood, rich in stem cells, can be used
to treat life-threatening blood-related diseases such as
lymphoma and leukaemia.
Cord blood donation increases the public cord blood
inventory for patients seeking a transplant to survive.
For more details, visit the Singapore Cord Blood Bank
website at www.scbb.com.sg or call +65 6394 5011.
Stem cell donation is not covered under the 2
legislative acts (HOTA and MTERA) in Singapore.
Myths
and Facts
1
Autologous
(using
patient’s
own cells)
Allogeneic
(using donor stem cells)
Fact:If you’re ill, all medical
professionals will give you
the best possible care
and do everything
Matched sibling donor
Volunteer unrelated donor
Unrelated cord blood
stem cell
Haplo-identical (halfmatched) related donor
2
3
they can to save
your life.
Myth: Organ donation is against
my religion.
Fact:
All
major religions
in Singapore support
organ and tissue donation.
Myth:
Open casket funeral is
not possible for organ
and tissue donor.
Fact:
Open casket funeral is
possible for donor.
It is important to share
your last wishes about
organ and tissue donation
with your loved ones.
Your gift could save a life!
Gift of
Life
Gift of
Hope
Organ and Tissue
Transplants Save Lives
Transplantation is a life-changing treatment for disabling
illnesses such as organ failure, blood and immune
disorders and blindness. It is made possible by generous
individuals who have donated their organs and tissues to
those in need.
Who Needs A Transplant?
Cornea
Patients with diseased or cloudy cornea
Heart
Patients with end-stage heart failure
For more information, please contact:
Haematopoietic Stem Cell
including Umbilical Cord Blood
Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia,
multiple myeloma, aplastic anaemia, etc.
Heart Valve
Patients with congenital heart
disease, infective endocarditis, etc.
Lung
About SingHealth Transplant
Pancreas
Established in 2010, SingHealth Transplant comprises nine
well-established transplant programmes – kidney, pancreas,
liver, heart and lung, cornea, blood stem cell and umbilical
cord blood – and a transplant tissue centre for skin and
cardiovascular homograft.
Patients with chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis, etc.
Patients either with insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
with end-stage kidney disease
We are one of the largest and most experienced transplant
practices in the region, providing comprehensive and
quality care to our patients and donors. To date, more than
7,000 transplants have been performed on our campuses,
giving new life and hope to patients and their families.
SingHealth Transplant
Tel
:+65 6326 6368
Fax
:+65 6220 0730
Email
:[email protected]
Website :www.singhealth.com.sg/transplant
Facebook :www.facebook.com/singhealthtransplant
Liver
Patients with end-stage liver disease
Surgeon
Nurse
Pharmacist
Transplant
Coordinator
Kidney
Patients with end-stage kidney disease
Skin
Patients with major burn injuries
Doctor
Ovarian
For reproductive aged women suffering
from cancer, or other diseases that require
cytotoxic medication that destroy eggs
Strategic Partner:
Information correct as of September 2016. Reg. No.: 200002698Z