Transplant waiting list tops 100,000 — possible solution offered

The following excerpts are from LifeSharers, U.S. Transplant Waiting List Hits 100,000 — America Needs Two Waiting Lists, Not One (Oct. 7, 2008):

The waiting list for organ transplants in the United States has topped 100,000 people.  America needs two transplant waiting lists, according to LifeSharers, a national network of organ donors:  the ‘A’ list for registered organ donors and the ‘B’ list for people who have not agreed to donate.

As of 5:14 p.m. on October 7, there were 100,024 people on the national transplant waiting list, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, which administers the waiting list and establishes rules for allocating donated organs.

“If UNOS allocated organs first to registered organ donors, more people would donate and thousands of lives would be saved every year,” says David J. Undis, Executive Director of LifeSharers. * * *

Every year, Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs.  And every year, over 8,000 Americans die because there aren’t enough organs for everyone who needs one.

Allocating organs first to organ donors will also make the transplant system fairer. * * *

People who want to donate their organs to other organ donors * * * can join LifeSharers.  LifeSharers members agree to offer their organs first to other members when they die, if any member is a suitable match.  Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88.  There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.