Public Policy

Organ Donation and Transplantation

Today, more than 92,000 people await life-saving organ transplantations, and the gap between available organs and those in need of organs is progressively widening.  For its part, The Joint Commission has continued to promote organ donation and cooperative organ procurement practices through its hospital accreditation standards.  But this effort, like others, is falling short of the mark.  No more than half of organs that could be transplanted are actually being harvested in hospitals.  As is painfully obvious, complex issues underlie the failure of this nation to meet its organ donation objectives.  The Organ Donation Roundtable has been charged to put forth recommendations for increasing organ donation, for improving equity in the process, and for protecting patients and donors.    A national conference on organ donation, Health Care at the Crossroads: Organ Donation in the 21st Century was held in March 2004. 

Strategies for Narrowing the Organ Donation Gap and Protecting Patients Published 6/04


Additional Resources


United Network for Organ Sharing

Selected Articles from United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)

  • Making Your Voice Heard - Public comment defined, and how you can participate -- and why you should
  • Changing Lung, Heart Allocation Policy - A look at the ongoing efforts of the OPTN/UNOS thoracic committee
  • Rowing for Donation - Two men row from New Jersey to New York, raising funds for donation
  • Mother Gives Daughter a Second Chance at Life - Hayley, now 14, had been diagnosed with PSC at age 3
  • NLDAC Launched; HRSA's DoT Has Two Grants Available - National Living Donor Assistance Center program is up and running; education and registry grant deadlines are Jan. 30, March 3, respectively
  • Donation after Cardiac Death: A reference Guide

 

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