As a result, more transplants are utilizing organs from living donors. While the procedure seems like a logical answer to the shortage, its use raises thorny clinical and ethical questions. As of May 6, more than 69,000 people were on waiting lists in the United States. Last year, about 22,000 organs were transplanted. Physicians discussed the implications of the trend recently at Transplant 2000, the first joint conference of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons and the American Society of Transplantation.
Compatible matches involving live donors can shorten wait times.
But donors, recipients and doctors must also consider the risks, benefits and ethics of removing organs from healthy people. This is all good for the recipient. However, we need to look out for downsides both for the donor and for society in general. Initially, living donor transplants were performed primarily with children as the recipients. But that's changing.