Q: One of my friend's sister is hospitalised due to a liver problem. All necessary tests have been undertaken. It has been told that liver functions have failed and there are little signs of improvement. Can her liver be transplanted? If so, who can donate the liver?

A:A liver transplant is certainly possible. The donor needs to be a willing and healthy (but not fat) family person aged between 18-55 years and weighing between 50-85 kg. The persons blood group should either be the same as the recipients or blood group O. The first step would be for you to get a liver transplant assessment done for the patient at a centre where living donor transplants are being done routinely with good success rates. Then the donor must also undergo evaluation. Once the recipient and donor are deemed fit for transplant, the operation can proceed. Let us know if you need any further information.