By Dr. Vinod Kumar K, Lead Senior Consultant and Transplant Physician – Nephrology, Manipal Hospital, Kanakapura Road
Types of Kidney Donation
There are two main types of kidney donation:
1. Cadaveric (Deceased) Donation
2. Living Donation
1. Cadaveric Donation
a) Donation After Brain Death (DBD)
This is the most commonly practiced form of deceased organ donation in India and many parts of the world.
– Brain death occurs in individuals with severe, irreversible brain damage—often due to road traffic accidents, brain hemorrhage, or stroke.
– These patients are maintained on life support systems like ventilators and medications that keep the heart beating, although the brain has permanently stopped functioning.
– Following a strict legal and medical protocol, brain death is confirmed by an authorized team. Once brain death is declared, multiple organs, including the kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs, can be retrieved for donation.
b) Donation After Cardiac Death (DCD)
– Practiced more widely in Western and European countries, this involves organ retrieval after the heart has stopped beating.
– This model is still evolving in India and requires extensive infrastructure and clear legal guidelines.
2. Living Donation
Living kidney donation involves a healthy individual voluntarily donating one of their kidneys to a patient in need. Since we can live a normal life with just one kidney, this has become a common and effective method for transplantation.
Who Can Be a Living Donor?
As per Indian law and transplant guidelines, living donors are generally restricted to first-degree relatives, such as:
– Father
– Mother
– Brother
– Sister
– Children
– Grandparents
A spouse (husband or wife) is also legally permitted to donate a kidney to their partner.
Altruistic Donation
Beyond family ties, there’s a category known as altruistic or emotionally related donation.
These are close friends, neighbors, or colleagues who are emotionally attached to the recipient and are willing to donate a kidney purely out of compassion, without any financial or material benefit.
– Such donations are allowed, but they undergo a rigorous authorization and ethics committee review to ensure transparency and safeguard against commercial exploitation.
India vs. Western Trends in Transplantation
– In India, about 80% of kidney transplants are from living donors, and only 20% are cadaveric.
– In Western countries, the reverse is true—80% of transplants come from deceased donors, and only 10–20% are from living donors.
This highlights the need to improve awareness and infrastructure for deceased organ donation in India.
Final Thoughts
Kidney donation—whether from a living or deceased donor—is a noble and life-transforming act. It gives patients suffering from end-stage kidney disease a new lease on life. If you or a loved one is considering a kidney transplant, understanding the types of donation and legal framework is the first step.
We encourage more awareness about cadaveric donation, as even one donor can save multiple lives. And to those considering living donation—you are giving more than a kidney; you are giving hope, health, and a future.
Dr. Vinod Kumar K
Lead Senior Consultant – Nephrology
Manipal Hospital, Kanakapura Road
To learn more or explore kidney transplant options, consult with a nephrologist or your local transplant center.