Organ donation: fact vs. fiction
Organ donation saves lives. But misinformation about the process causes many to feel reluctant about donating.
“Some people are hesitant because of negative connotations surrounding organ donation that are simply not true,” says Dr. Cristobal Barrios Jr., a UCI Health surgeon who specializes in trauma and critical care.
“End-of-life issues are near and dear to me because so many could people be helped if everyone had accurate information about organ donation.”
Organs from deceased donors dipped by 2.5% last year for the first time in more than a decade, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Overall, however, more than 49,000 organs were transplanted in 2025, a record.
Unmet need
The need for kidney, liver, heart, lung and other donor organs remains huge. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
- More than 100,000 people were on the national waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant as of January 2026.
- Every eight minutes, someone new is added to the U.S. wait list.
- Every day, at least 13 people on the list die because an organ they need is not available for transplant.
- About 95% of U.S. adults surveyed say they support organ donations, yet only 58% actually sign up to become donors.
- Each year, the number of people on the wait list continues to exceed both the number of donors and total transplants.
Despite efforts to increase awareness about the need and the process, myths surrounding organ donation persist.
Misconceptions abound
There are numerous misconceptions about organ donation. Among the erroneous beliefs are that:
- Physicians are waiting for loved ones to die in order to recover their organs.
- Doctors and nurses won’t work as hard to save the life of a person who is registered as an organ donor.
- Loved ones feel pain or may still be alive when their organs are removed.
- Loved ones deemed potential organ donors could still pull through and survive.
- A closed casket is the only option after organ donation.
Facts about organ donation
OneLegacy, the nonprofit, federally-designated organ recovery organization, works with hospital systems such as UCI Heath to support families that make the decision to honor their deceased loved ones by donating lifesaving organs and healing tissues for those in need.
Here are the facts:
- The organ donation process does not begin until every attempt has been made to save a patient’s life.
- A patient must be declared legally deceased before a donation can proceed.
- OneLegacy representatives work with families to discuss donation decisions.
- Physicians must follow a formal process to recover organs. They are not waiting for patients to pass away.
- Deceased donors do not feel any pain during organ recovery.
- Most major religious groups support organ and tissue donations.
Organ procurement organizations treat each donor with respect and dignity, ensuring that a deceased donor’s body can be viewed in an open-casket funeral whenever possible.
Organ donation by the numbers
According to OneLegacy, one person’s donation of:
- Organs could save up eight lives
- Corneas could give sight to two people
- Tissue could heal up to 75 people
Waiting list by the numbers
Of the more than 100,000 people on the U.S. wait list for an organ transplant, One Legacy says that:
- More than 2,000 are children under age 18
- Two out of three are at least age 50
- More than 86% are awaiting a kidney
The impact of organ donation
The decision to donate sometimes gives grieving donor families a sense of purpose and comfort, says Barrios, a professor of surgery at UC Irvine School of Medicine Department of Surgery.
“We approach organ donation very seriously at UCI Health," he says. "The patient is treated respectfully during their entire journey, even after death. Family members are not pressured; they are given time to make decisions surrounding their loved one’s death.”
Spiritual care is also offered.
Early in his medical career, Barrios worked in a hospice center where end-of-life issues arose daily.
“It is a difficult thing to deal with. However, the truth is, that when you choose to donate organs after death, real hope and something positive can come out of tragedy.”