Pathway overview
Liver transplant pathways can include deceased donation and, in some jurisdictions and circumstances, living donation. Availability does not mean that a person is clinically eligible or legally able to access a pathway.
A transplant hospital must independently assess urgency, suitability, surgical risk, donor safety where relevant, and long-term care.
Important distinctions
- Living donation
- Potential donors require independent medical and psychosocial assessment with protection from pressure or financial inducement.
- Deceased donation
- Organs are allocated under national rules; MedTransplant cannot secure or accelerate access.
- Clinical urgency
- Urgency and candidacy are assessed only by licensed clinical teams using their applicable rules.
Topics a hospital may evaluate
Requirements differ by person, programme, and jurisdiction. A licensed transplant team may consider:
- Underlying liver disease
- Clinical urgency and stability
- Cardiopulmonary and infection assessment
- Surgical and anaesthetic risk
- Caregiver and follow-up planning
Questions to ask a licensed transplant hospital
- Which licensed transplant hospital should review my situation?
- Which pathway is legally available to a non-resident in this jurisdiction?
- What evaluation steps and records will the hospital request directly?
- How are donor protection, consent, allocation, and follow-up handled?
