What are donation and transplantation?
Donation makes it possible to replace diseased organs, tissues, or cells with anatomical components from a donor for therapeutic purposes. In Colombia it is a regulated, transparent, and audited process that safeguards donors and recipients alike.
Definition What do donation and transplantation mean?
Donation is a voluntary act—either during life or after death with family consent—and never involves payment. One donor can benefit more than 55 people.
Transplantation is the medical treatment that replaces the failing organ or tissue with healthy donor tissue.
Organs & tissues What can be donated in Colombia?
Organs: heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, intestine, pancreas.
Tissues: corneas, skin, bone, bone marrow, blood vessels, heart valves, cartilage, tendons, sclera, and amniotic membrane.
Tissues: corneas, skin, bone, bone marrow, blood vessels, heart valves, cartilage, tendons, sclera, and amniotic membrane.
Myths Does the donor’s body change? Is there organ trafficking?
No, the body is not disfigured. Specialized teams perform the procedures and protect the donor’s appearance.
There is no legal “trafficking”. Only authorized entities in accredited facilities can retrieve organs and tissues.
Living donation Can you donate while alive?
Yes. A paired organ such as a kidney or a tissue like bone marrow can be donated to a family member or related person, provided clinical and legal criteria are met.
Timing When does donation take place?
Donation occurs after brain death or cardiorespiratory arrest (in the latter case only tissues can be retrieved).
That is why expressing your decision to your family during life is so important.
Brain death What is brain death?
It is the complete and irreversible cessation of brain activity. The person is considered medically, ethically, and legally deceased; organs may be temporarily supported while donation is evaluated.
Eligibility Who can be a donor?
Everyone can be a potential donor. Suitability is determined after death with the family’s consent.
There is no age limit; minors can donate with parental authorization.
Regulations What laws govern donation in Colombia?
Key regulations include Law 73 of 1988, Law 919 of 2004, and Decree 2493 of 2004, which define procedures, scientific criteria, and sanitary measures.
Presumed consent What does presumed consent mean?
If neither the person nor their family expressed opposition and there are no medical or legal contraindications, organs and tissues may be retrieved within the established time frames to ensure quality.
National network What is the Donation and Transplant Network?
It is an integrated system (Tissue and Bone Marrow Banks, transplant hospitals, the National Institute of Health, regional health authorities, etc.)
that coordinates promotion, donation, retrieval, transplantation, and implantation under principles of quality, timeliness, and equity.
Waiting list How do I join the waiting list?
1) A specialist refers the patient to an accredited transplant center for pre-transplant assessment.
2) The insurer (EPS or regional authority) authorizes the required studies.
3) If the patient meets the clinical criteria and authorization is granted, they are added to the list.
4) Transplant timing depends on compatibility and donor availability.
2) The insurer (EPS or regional authority) authorizes the required studies.
3) If the patient meets the clinical criteria and authorization is granted, they are added to the list.
4) Transplant timing depends on compatibility and donor availability.
Allocation How are organs and tissues allocated?
Allocation follows national scientific criteria to ensure equity and non-discrimination. The process is monitored and audited by the government.
Confidentiality Can donors meet recipients?
No. Donor, recipient, and process information remains confidential.