Deceased Donor Transplant
The deceased donor kidney transplantation procedure is governed by the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) and The Medical (Therapy, Education and Research) Act (MTERA), and it is applicable to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. The majority of patients receive kidneys from deceased donors. Sometimes two kidneys, instead of one from a deceased donor will be placed if the kidneys are assessed that one kidney is not enough to provide sufficient function for the patient.
Living Donor Transplant
Whenever possible, a living kidney donor is preferred because the success rates are generally better. In order to receive a kidney from a living donor, there must be a living donor who is willing, able to give informed consent and is otherwise medically and psychologically suitable to donate one of his or her own kidneys. The living donor does not need to be genetically related to the potential recipient. However, if there are no living kidney donors, then the only option is to receive a transplant with kidney (s) from a deceased donor. In Singapore, there are strict regulations about living kidney donation which must be followed in order for the transplant to be approved and to proceed.
