Deceased Donor Kidney Transplant

Patients in need of a kidney transplant who do not have a living donor will be placed on the deceased donor transplant waiting list.

What is Deceased Donor Kidney Donation?

A deceased donor kidney is a kidney taken from a person who has died, who doesn’t have kidney disease, and who has consented to donation through the New England Donor Bank. A deceased person’s close relatives also can provide consent. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is responsible for the allocation of all deceased donor kidney donations. UNOS uses a set of criteria, including waiting time and tissue compatibility, to match the kidney. Visit Donate Life America or New England Donor Services to learn more about the importance of organ donation and how you can participate.

Evaluation Process

The evaluation process for kidney transplant patients is the same, regardless of whether the patient plans to pursue a living or deceased kidney donor. Please see our Transplant Evaluation page for a description of the transplant evaluation process.

Patient Resources

Please see our Patient Education and Support page for a full list of instructor-led programs and educational videos.

Before Transplant Care
Phone (617) 732-6866, option 2
Fax (617) 525-0431
BWHKidneyTxReferral@partners.org

Learn more about Brigham and Women's Hospital


For over a century, a leader in patient care, medical education and research, with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery.

About BWH