Can You Donate Your Organs and Body to Science? 5 Common Questions Answered

At Donor Alliance, we witness both the heartbreak of loss and the incredible hope that comes from organ, eye, and tissue donation. That hope fuels our mission to save lives by educating and inspiring people to register as donors. Through community outreach and education programs across Colorado and Wyoming, we answer tough questions and help the public understand the powerful impact of saying “yes” to donation.

Through our education efforts, we often hear the same big questions about donor eligibility, how organ donation works, and what’s true or not. So, we asked our team to break down five of the most common and challenging ones.

1. I plan to donate my body to science. Can I still be an organ and tissue donor?

Yes, you can. If you want to donate your body to science, it is a separate process from organ and tissue donation. When you register as an organ donor, Donor Alliance recovers organs and tissues only for transplant to save lives. Whole-body donation for research or education must be arranged through a different organization. If you’re registered as an organ and tissue donor, those donations happen first to save lives. Whole-body donation to science only occurs afterward, ensuring organ and tissue transplant needs are met before research.

2. Can undocumented immigrants get transplants? I heard somebody couldn’t get a transplant because of their status.

Yes, undocumented immigrants can receive organ transplants. Transplant centers use the same criteria for all candidates, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. The four Colorado transplant centers do not require proof of U.S. citizenship. Each candidate faces strict medical and psychosocial evaluations. A key factor is the patient’s ability to manage post-transplant care, which is vital for transplant success. These rigorous criteria help ensure every donated organ gives the greatest chance for a new life.

3. I’ve heard that if I’m in an accident or dying that paramedics or doctors won’t try to save my life because I have a heart on my license. Is that true?

No. Being a registered organ, eye, and tissue donor does not affect the medical care you receive. Medical teams focus only on saving your life in an emergency. The heart symbol on your driver’s license shows your donor status but may not be current. Medical staff do not have access to the donor registry. Only authorized recovery agency personnel can verify donor status confidentially through the official registry.

4. I would sign up to become an organ, eye and tissue donor, but I’m too old and too sick to register.

You’re never too old or unhealthy to sign up to be a donor. Each person’s medical condition is evaluated at the time of death to determine what organs and tissues are viable for donation. Even people living with chronic diseases, like hepatitis or diabetes, can join the donor registry. Organs and tissues are generally not considered for donation if a person has died from an active cancer or an infectious disease; however, certain cancer patients can donate corneas. Everyone is encouraged to register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor and allow the medical professionals to determine your suitability to donate in the event of death.

5. Dozens of countries have presumed consent laws. Why doesn’t the U.S. move to a presumed consent policy to help shrink the transplant waiting list?

Presumed consent means everyone is automatically a donor unless they legally opt out. However, research shows this system likely won’t increase transplants in our region. Past surveys reveal low public support: 62% of Wyoming and 56% of Colorado residents oppose presumed consent. Opt-out systems also remove the chance to get family approval.

All U.S. states use an opt-in system. Donor registration acts as first-person consent and can’t be overridden by family. In countries with presumed consent, families can still refuse donation, which can prevent some donations from happening.

All states in the U.S. operate under an opt in system where the donor designation serves as a first-person consent advanced directive, unable to be overruled by the family. In other countries operating under a system of presumed consent, families are able to override the presumption of consent, nullifying the donation.

If you have more questions, or want to learn more about how to join the 68 percent of Coloradans and 59 percent of Wyoming residents who have signed up to be a donor, check out our Understanding Donation page, or visit DonateLifeColorado.org or DonateLifeWyoming.org.