Confidentiality During the Liver Donation Process

By law, doctors must retain confidentiality during the liver donation process to protect the donor's medical history and test results. The laws do, however, allow healthcare professionals to review your medical records and discuss them with the transplant team to ensure a safe surgery. Your information may also be shared with organizations that maintain donor lists, although they protect your confidentiality during the liver donation process, too.

Confidentiality During the Liver Donation Process: An Overview

As a possible liver donor, every effort will be made to keep your private information confidential.

If you decide to be evaluated as a potential liver donor, only you and your healthcare providers will know the results of your medical exams. All confidentiality laws that relate to your situation will be followed.

These laws do allow healthcare professionals to review your medical records and discuss this information with the transplant team. This sharing of information is necessary to ensure that you are kept as safe and healthy as possible during and after the medical evaluation and the transplant surgery.

If you qualify to be a liver donor, your name and necessary medical information will also be given to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, or OPTN. The OPTN is an organization that keeps a list of all potential organ donors and patients waiting for transplant organs to become available. Other agencies involved in the transplant process may also receive your information.