DonorOnly

Donor-only is a term used in organ and tissue donation to describe a person who has designated themselves primarily as a donor, with the role of donation taking precedence over recipient eligibility in a transplant system. In many transplant programs, individuals may register to donate after death, to be included in a donor registry, or to participate as living donors; a donor-only designation indicates that the person’s priority or intent is donation, not seeking a transplant for themselves. The precise meaning and implications of donor-only status vary by country, region, and program policy.

In practice, donor-only status often appears in registries that separate donor consent from recipient wait-listing. A donor may consent to organ or tissue donation in the event of death, while choosing not to be considered for a transplant, or may simply be recorded as a potential donor who is not currently listed as a recipient. Ethical considerations include ensuring informed consent, respecting revocation, protecting against inappropriate pressure, and aligning with the donor's wishes throughout the allocation process.

Donor-only designations are part of broader donor registries, which seek to balance donor autonomy with equitable organ allocation. Policies continue to evolve to clarify the scope of consent, data privacy, and how donor-only statuses interact with wait-listing and allocation rules. See also organ donation, donor registry, living donation, and deceased donation.