Donor Network West saves and heals lives through organ and tissue donation. We honor and respect the donors and families we serve with compassionate care, and inspire our communities to donate life.

Established in 1987, we are a federally designated organ and tissue procurement organization accredited by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB).

We proudly serve 175 hospitals in 40 counties and more than 13 million people in northern California and Nevada. Donor Network West works in close partnership with families, doctors, nurses, more than 500 funeral homes and 44 coroners and medical examiners to connect donors to recipients.

The terminology used to describe and report on organ and tissue donation has evolved due to changes in the field and at the request of donor families out of respect for their loved ones. For example, the word “recovery” (as in “organ recovery” or “tissue recovery”) has replaced “harvest”, as the universally adopted term. Below is a list of several other dated donation-related terms and their preferred uses.

For an expansive list of terms and topics specific to organ and tissue donation, click here.