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Post-donor communication

It is common for transplant patients and donors to want to connect after transplant. While post-transplant communications are recognized as part of a healthy adjustment following transplant, there are privacy rules that limit when and how patients and donors can connect after transplant.

Explore our confidentiality policy and how to navigate patient and donor communication and access the forms you need to facilitate communication between a patient and donor.

Patient and Donor Confidentiality

We follow a strict confidentiality policy for patients and NMDP Registry® donors. The policy is based on U.S. federal laws and is designed to protect the privacy of patients and donors.

During the first 12 months following transplant, we allow only anonymous communication. All communications—such as cards, letters and gifts—are passed between patients and donors through our Patient Advocacy and Navigation team. For full details on the review and exchange process, access AID-00098 Anonymous Correspondence and Gifts: Policies and Procedures (Legacy A00501).

After the 12-month waiting period, patients or donors can request consent to release personal information. However, your transplant center and some donor registries may have different policies and waiting periods. It is important to be aware of these policies when communicating with your patients.

Find more details in the Transplant Center Manual of Operations and our listing of policies for international cooperative registries, donor centers and transplant centers:

Post-Transplant Communication Forms

Use these forms to request the release of personal information for direct communication between the patient and donor.

FRM-00207 Post-Transplant Consent to Release Personal Information (Legacy F00776) 
A patient or donor completes this consent form to provide personal contact information to the other party. Also available in Spanish - FRM-00265 (Legacy F00878)

FRM-00209 Post-Transplant Consent Form to Release Personal Information after Recipient Death (Legacy F00778)
A donor or the spouse (or first-degree relative) of a recipient who is deceased completes this special consent form when the donor or relative wishes to exchange personal information. Also available in Spanish - FRM-00266 (Legacy F00879).

Questions?

Patient Advocacy and Navigation team will help both parties navigate post-transplant communications. We can answer questions on specific policies, help fill out consent forms and keep the process moving efficiently.