A person cannot live without a healthy liver, because of the contributions of the organ to digestion and to cleansing the blood. But an adult with a failed liver can survive … (under extensive medical care) for a day or two, possibly as long as 3 days, before a transplant becomes necessary. person cannot live without a healthy liver, because of the contributions of the organ to digestion and to cleansing the blood. But an adult with a failed liver can survive … (under extensive medical care) for a day or two, possibly as long as 3 days, before a transplant becomes necessary.