How LifeSharers Works

LifeSharers members give fellow members preferred access to their organs.  In other words, they want their organs to be offered first to other LifeSharers members, if any member is a suitable match, before being offered to non-members.

To see how this is accomplished, it's useful to understand how the organ distribution system works.  Getting on the waiting list is the first step, and getting an organ is (hopefully) the last step.

HOW DOES THE ORGAN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WORK FOR LIFESHARERS MEMBERS?

Getting on the organ waiting list

If you are a LifeSharers member, you go through the exact same process as normal to get on the waiting list.  You also send an email to info@lifesharers.org.nz to let LifeSharers know you are on the national waiting list.

Getting an organ

If an available organ is not from a LifeSharers member, the process of determining who gets it is exactly the same as the normal process determined by the criteria already in place. 

If the organ is from a LifeSharers member, the highest-ranked qualified LifeSharers member (if any) on the list is the designated donee of that organ if that person is a suitable match.  This is based on the language in the LifeSharers membership agreement (and on the LifeSharers donor card):  "It is my express wish that my organs be donated first to members of the LifeSharers network, unless no LifeSharers member is a suitable match.  For each organ of my body donated, I designate as donee that LifeSharers member who is the most suitable match as defined by the criteria in use by LifeSharers at the time of my death." 

We rely on the deceased member's next-of-kin to make sure that the member's wishes are honoured, to obtain the names of eligible LifeSharers members who need organs, to provide the names of those individuals to the relevant medical staff, and to direct the member's organs to their designated donees. Next-of-kin can get the names of LifeSharers members who need organs by telephoning LifeSharers at (03) 338 5678.