Kidney Donation from Loved Ones: The Importance of Your “Inner Circle” as Potential Donors
If you are looking for a living kidney donor, your family is often the first place to look. Not only are family members more likely to be a good match, they are also more likely to be willing to donate.
In a 2019 survey of 10,000 US adults by the Health Resources and Services Administration, 86% said they would be willing to donate a kidney to a family member, 76% to a close friend, 55% to an acquaintance, and 46% to a stranger.
But a 2021 study found that only 32% of all living donors in 2019 were first-degree biological relatives. According to the latest data from the National Kidney Registry, only 20% of living kidney donations facilitated through a microsite are from “inner circle family” (parents, children, siblings, and spouses or significant others), while 39% are from friends or acquaintances.
However, while the percentage of familial donors may seem low compared to the high rate of willingness to donate, inner circle family members who register as donors are much more likely to actually donate than any other group.
Based on the latest NKR data, inner circle family donors are about 12 times more likely to actually donate than unrelated donors, and three times more likely than friends or acquaintances. That means that if someone from your inner circle registers as a donor, they are much more likely to go through with the process than any other type of donor candidate.
The other thing that makes family members an important group is matching. Very close blood relatives, such as siblings, parents, and children, are more likely to be a match for you, which may allow them to donate directly to you. Even if they are not a match, the Voucher Program lets them donate on your behalf to ensure you get the best possible match. Learn more about kidney matching.
Even though family members are excellent potential donor candidates, many kidney patients hesitate to ask family members to donate. Concerns about health risks, long-term effects, or simply not wanting to burden family members can make patients reluctant to have these important conversations. This hesitation can cut off one of the most promising sources of potential donors.
If you feel uneasy about asking family members to consider donation, it may help to know that donating a kidney is a very safe procedure. It has an extremely low mortality rate, does not shorten the donor’s life expectancy, and requires almost no lifestyle changes post-donation. Most kidney donors go on to lead normal, healthy lives—they can still exercise, have children, travel, enjoy their favorite foods and drinks, and do the things they love with no limitations. To ensure both you and your potential donors are well informed, here are some common misconceptions about kidney donation, along with the facts.
If you need help finding a way to talk to family members about becoming your donor, see our blog post on how to ask someone to donate a kidney and our guide to having conversations with your family over the holidays.
Many kidney patients hesitate because they don’t want a loved one to face any health risks or inconvenience—a valid and deeply caring concern. Still, rather than deciding for them, it’s best to share accurate information about the risks and allow them to make their own informed choice. You need help: give the people who love you a chance to offer it.