Overview

A nondirected living donor is a living person who donates an organ, usually a kidney, and does not name or have an intended recipient. The organ is donated as a gift with no expectations of return and no connections between the donor and transplant recipient.

Nondirected donors are also referred to as good Samaritan or altruistic donors. The transplant recipient is determined by medical compatibility and need.

A nondirected living donor may also participate in paired organ donation or organ donation chains to help match incompatible pairs. This process often results in a chain of transplants with multiple candidates benefiting from the nondirected donor's gift.