D

Deceased Donor: A person who has been declared dead and whose organs and/or tissues have been donated for transplantation.

Deductible: A fixed amount of money you must pay for covered healthcare expenses before the insurance company starts to pay. This is usually a yearly amount of $250, $500, $1000, or more.

Dependents: Those persons who also receive insurance benefits on your policy, for example, a spouse and children.

Diastolic blood pressure: The bottom number in your blood pressure (80 in a blood pressure of 120/80), which indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.

Disability insurance: A type of insurance that provides you with an income if illness or injury prevents you from being able to work for an extended period of time.

Donation: The act of giving organ(s), tissue(s), or blood to someone else without compensation.

Dialysis: A mechanical process designed to remove toxic substances from the blood, including correcting the balance of fluids and chemicals in the body and removing wastes when the kidneys are unable to do so. See hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. It is common for many intestinal transplant patients to require dialysis post-transplant due to the nephrotoxic (kidney toxic) effects of the immunosuppressant medications like tacrolimus.

Donor Designation: Documentation of an individual’s decision to donate organs, eyes, and/or tissues after death, usually designated on a driver’s license or through a State donor registry.

Donor Registries: A confidential electronic database in which individuals can enter and store their wish to be an organ and tissue donor. Most registries are for a single state, but a few serve more than one state. Most registries have enrollment capacity through the motor vehicle offices and many also have online registry portals. Because registry information is accessible on a 24/7 basis to authorized procurement personnel, it is the safest and quickest way to determine if a deceased individual wanted to be a donor.

Durable power of attorney: A legal document in which you name someone to make medical decisions for you when you are unable to speak for yourself.