Donor families and transplant recipients can write anonymous letters to each other if they wish. Some transplant recipients say they value this opportunity to express their gratitude. Many donor families say they value receiving correspondence and that sharing stories about their loved one is helpful in their grieving process.
Correspondence guidelines have been developed to assist donor families and transplant recipients who wish to write. Read the correspondence guidelines for donor families and transplant recipients.
The decision to correspond is a very individual and personal one. It may take months or even years before a donor family or transplant recipient is ready to send and/ or receive correspondence. Some people may choose not to write.
There is a National Standard Operating Procedure for the way that anonymous correspondence is exchanged between transplant recipients and donor families. This document outlines a nationally consistent process which is managed by DonateLife agencies and hospital transplant units.
Read the National Standard Operating Procedures for more information about the management of the correspondence process.
Donor families can enquire about the status of their correspondence by contacting their local DonateLife Agency for assistance. Transplant recipients can also contact their relevant Transplant Coordinator/Unit if they would like to follow up on the status of their correspondence.
If a donor family or transplant recipient are not satisfied with the way their letters have been managed, they can notify the Organ and Tissue Authority via the form on the enquiries page by selecting the 'Donor family & recipient correspondence' from the topic drop down box. Awareness of these matters will help us continually improve the correspondence process and address any specific issues.
Direct contact
The OTA has prepared an information paper for donor families and transplant recipients who are considering making direct contact. The information paper provides information of a general nature only.
Read the information paper.
The OTA convened a Community Consultative Forum in March 2017 to explore questions about waiver of anonymity and direct contact between donor families and transplant recipients.
Read the report on the community consultative forum.
