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Overview
Thanks to advances in medical science, many people can now receive a second chance at life through organ and tissue transplantation. Technology has made it possible for a person to receive a variety of donated organs including a kidney, liver, pancreas, lung(s), and/or heart. Tissues such as corneas, bone, bone marrow and skin can also be transplanted. However, this can only be done through the generosity of organ donors.
Unfortunately, the availability of organs for transplant has not kept pace with the growing need. As of February 2008, more than 97,000 people are on waiting lists for transplants in the United States, and more than 74,000 of them are waiting for kidneys. Tragically, and unnecessarily, 17 patients die daily waiting for donor organs.
AKF's Positions
AKF supports innovative efforts to increase organ donation in the United States. We encourage individuals and groups who wish to mount a public appeal for increasing organ donation to do so in a way that promotes the overall need rather than an individual’s need. Such appeals may help reduce the waiting list and waiting times. There are many ways to help promote organ donation. Some of them include:
- Scheduling informational programs at places of worship, clubs, fraternal and other organizations.
- Volunteering for activities during National Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness Month in April or National Donor Sabbath in November
- Placing organ donation brochures in paychecks at work
- Writing letters to the editor of local newspapers showcasing the need
- Encouraging local newspapers, radio and televisions stations to use Public Service Announcements on organ donation
- Distributing donor awareness materials at social events and community fairs
- Calling the principal or superintendent of schools and urging them to use the Decision: Donation curriculum developed by the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Transplantation (See www.organdonor.gov/student/ or call 301-443-7577)
In addition, AKF encourages both directed and voluntary non-directed living kidney donation. We also support living donor exchange programs when performed in accordance with publicly disclosed and promulgated UNOS and Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) policies and standards.
The national system for allocating organs from deceased donors for transplantation is founded on the principles of equity and medical benefit. This system continues to be refined and improved, informed by objective research analyses of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR).
AKF supports the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) statement in opposition “to attempts by individuals to solicit organ donation from a deceased donor ahead of other waiting candidates in a manner that subverts the established principles and objectives of equitable organ allocation.”
Resources
For resource materials and more information on how you can promote organ donation, contact the AKF HelpLine at 866.300.2900.
Other resources include:
Coalition on Donation
www.shareyourlife.org
804.782.4920
DHHS Division of Transplantation
www.organdonor.gov
301.443.7577
Your local organ procurement organization
Find it at: www.aopo.org
703.556.4242
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