"A common point of self-reflection is whether we have truly accomplished anything worthwhile during our lifetime.  One way to ensure that you leave a lasting legacy that could help save other people's lives is to become an organ and tissue donor."
--Journal of the American Medical Association, 280(13): 1206 (October 7, 1998)

About Living Donation

Due to the government-caused severe shortage of organs, organ transplants are increasingly being done using living donors, raising many troubling ethical questions.    Nevertheless, it is considered completely safe to donate a kidney if one has two good ones, and one can donate over half of one's liver -- over time the remainder will regrow to as good as new.  Successful operations have also been performed that remove part of a lung, the tip of one's pancreas, or a section of small intestine.  With the advent of more effective immunosuppressants, organ transplants are increasingly being done with organs that aren't well-matched, and there's no indication that these trends will soon change.

If you're seriously thinking about becoming a living donor, you should read up on it as much as possible.   I recommend that you explore this link, and also visit the "required reading" link at the bottom of that page, all sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation.

Finally, if you’re willing to think about giving up an organ while you’re alive, you’re probably ready to donate your organs after you die. If so, you should join LifeSharers.  You’ll have a better chance to get an organ if you ever need one.  Membership is free at http://www.lifesharers.com.