The need for liver transplantation is a life and death matter. Almost 7,200 people today are waiting for a liver transplant. Ten die each day because an organ was not available. It is imperative that we transplant as many of those waiting as possible. Despite its advantages, computer modeling does not increase donation rates, which is considered crucial to eliminating the organ shortage.
Donation depends on an individual's willingness to give the gift of life.
Previously, policy-making has relied largely on intuition, experience and judgment of those involved. Computer modeling offers a more scientific approach to policy-making, providing additional advantages of precision, quantification and probabilistic reasoning, researchers say. It is predicted to have an even larger role in policy-making in the future. It is the only government-appointed organization that manages the data used to develop policy on organ transplants.