Kidney transplants between relatives

Procedure to submit a request for kidney transplant between relatives (including fourth-degree relatives) at HDF

The nephrologist attending a kidney transplant candidate must send the duly signed medical opinion regarding the planned kidney transplant between relatives up to the fourth degree (see List document on the page) to the Secretariat of the HDF Ethics Board (c/o Centre Universitaire d’Ethique - Campus des Sciences Médicales USJ - tél 2229), including prognosis, possible risks, transplant urgency level, proof of completion of clinical and paraclinical tests, as well as confirmation of no contraindications for the donor.

Enclosed with this document should be:

  • Copy of donor and recipient ID cards.
  • Copy of their family civil registry.
  • Their phone numbers.

The Secretariat of the Ethics Board forwards duplicates of the various case documents to the social worker and psychologist appointed for this case and requests them to work together to arrange an appointment with the potential donor and the recipient, as well as with the legal representative should the recipient be a minor.

During interviews with the potential donor and the recipient, the social worker will look into family members, financial situation, availability of third-party funding, etc. The social worker will also check with the extended family to see if other people have volunteered as donors, and if so, whether they are compatible or not. During the donor interview, the social worker will instruct the donor to write a handwritten note regarding their motives.

During interviews with the potential donor and the recipient, the psychologist will check the relationship between them and will ensure the donor’s freedom of decision.

The social worker and the psychologist must send their written and signed opinions regarding the transplant separately to the Ethics Board Office.

One week before the Ethics Committee meeting, the secretariat shall provide all Committee members with a copy of the opinions of the nephrologist, the social worker and the psychologist, as an annex to the meeting notice and agenda.

During the meeting, the transplant is ethically reviewed based on the three above mentioned reports. The nephrologist, the social worker and the psychologist may be invited to the meeting. If the members deem it necessary to have additional information, an additional opinion may be sought, namely that of a psychiatrist, which will defer decision-making to a future Committee meeting.

The decision of the Ethics Committee is communicated by means of a letter signed by its President to the nephrologist, and a copy to the surgeon and the Medical Director, within eight days following the meeting.

If the decision is favorable, the donor and/or the recipient should contact NOD-Lb (https://www.nodlb.org/) to arrange an appointment to present their complete file, which should include:

  • Copy of the individual civil registry record or ID card of both the recipient and the potential donor.
  • Copy of their family civil registry indicating kinship.
  • The HDF Ethics Board Report.
  • The psychologist’s report certifying that the donor and the recipient are aware of the risks and implications of the surgery and that the donor is in no way coerced to donate.
  • The attending physician’s and surgeon’s report regarding the donor’s health and awareness of possible risks and implications of the donation over short and long term.
  • Informed consent from the donor, stating that the surgeon has fully explained the consequences of the surgery, as well as possible risks and consequences over short and medium term, that the donor has fully understood the information provided and that they take responsibility for the surgery.
  • Copy of all preliminary medical examinations of the donor and the recipient.
  • The two hospitalization requests issued by the hospital and signed by the surgeon and the supervising physician if the surgery is covered by the Ministry of Public Health.
  • The surgeon’s report on the donor and recipient.

The donor or recipient or a member of their family may request the Secretariat of the Ethics Committee to review the file.

The donor or recipient or a member of their family may contact NOD-Lb for a second review of the file.

The donor or recipient or a member of their family shall deposit the file at the Secretariat of the Minister of Health and shall retrieve it a few days later upon receiving written authorization from the Minister.

The donor or recipient or a member of their family must supply the surgeon with the written authorization from the Minister, allowing the surgeon to book the operating rooms.

The surgeon notifies the Secretariat of the Ethics Committee by e-mail (cue@usj.edu.lb) as soon as the transplant has been performed.

Documents in Arabic Kidney.docx18.38 KB