| The
System |
| The
United Network for Organ Sharing(UNOS), a non-profit corporation,
operates the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network(OPTN) under
contract to the Department of Health and Human Services. OPTN coordinates
the work of Organ Procurement Organizations(OPO's). The OPO's are
responsible for public and professional education about organ donation,
and work with hospitals and transplant centers in their service area
to identify potential donors, secure consent, and efficiently distribute
donated organs. OPTN maintains the national waiting list of organ
transplant candidates which determines how donated organs are allocated.
UNOS/OPTN and the OPO's have done a wonderful job under the rules
now in effect, but they have only been able to provide organs for
about a third of those waiting for transplantation. |
| The
Shortage |
 |
Over
100,000 people are now on the waiting list for a transplant |
|
On
average, 19 people die everyday because no organ became available |
|
For
every person who is removed from the waiting list, two are added |
|
| The
Problem |
| Although
85% of Americans support organ donation, actual donation rates continue
to be too low. One reason for this is that too often, family members
do not know the wishes of their loved ones. Faced with the decision
at the time of a tragic event, they do not consent to donation. In
many jurisdictions, even
when it is known what the individual's wishes are, the family is still
allowed to override that decision. And, despite regulations that require
hospitals to report all deaths to an OPO, as many as 15% are never
referred. |
| The
Solutions |
|
Enforce
all "Required Referral" laws and regulations |
|
Make
it illegal for anyone to override an individual's wish to be
a donor (as evidenced by a Donor Card or by not opting out of
a presumed consent system) |
|
Change
the system to what much of the rest of world uses: Presumed
Consent |
|
For
more information about Presumed Consent click here
|
