Removing barriers to living organ donation

In 2020, almost 15% of organ donations in the USA came from living donors. Most these were kidney or liver donations, which are organs highest demand: approximately 84% patients on US transplant waiting list need a and 11% awaiting transplant. At time writing, more than 107 000 people this list, demand for continues to exceed supply. Increasing number donors is essential if imbalance be addressed. However, there several practical considerations that may deter potential donors, particularly USA. These not limited nature procedure: as well significant recovery risk associated with major surgery, can considerable financial consequences. For instance, loss wages even employment, expenses related surgery necessarily covered by insurance. Crucially, also find it difficult obtain pay insurance after donation, have life-long March, 2021, legislation was introduced better protect rights and, theory, eliminate some barriers donation. This legislation, Living Donor Protection Act, prohibits companies denying limiting coverage charging higher premiums. By addressing such crucial barrier, Act should enable become thus increase available would only help reduce but likelihood improved matching between unrelated recipients, increasing diversity donor pool making accessible people. Diversifying just important although ethnicity requirement matching, most suitable matches often made recipients same ethnic background they likely share blood groups tissue types. Patients Black minority backgrounds wait longer match because smaller. Even accessing transplantation fraught difficulties. Several factors, including access primary care, distance centre, subjective selection centres, affect patient onto Disparities evident: 2013 2018, non-Hispanic Hispanic under-represented. contrast, White over-represented rate expected. It racial disparity evident; period, women die while less receive men. Efforts improve equity far primarily focused centres. United Network Organ Sharing proposed much-debated model distribution donated could distributed acuity circles within defined radius original hospital, rather via previous area region-based model. Initially intestine transplants February, programme further expanded include pancreas transplantations 2021. While modelling Scientific Registry Transplant Recipients suggests approach will certain groups, minorities, focusing one way disparities reduced. referrals educational initiatives, provision holistic care sensitive cultural disparity. Attempts diversify applauded, must run parallel other initiatives. The protection provided new might encourage consider improving public perceptions misconceptions about process important. Reducing inequities at every stage donation ensure fair delivery health all.