The IoM report has achieved the goal the Congress intended for it. It provides clarity to this issue and dispenses with misconceptions. It provides a good basis for moving ahead now to finalize our rule and proceed with development of appropriate transplant policies by the transplant community. We have already indicated our intention to make alterations in the final regulation that will result in the best possible product, and in recent months we have been meeting with transplant professionals and patient groups toward that end. It is our intention now, with the IoM findings in hand, to move vigorously in a cooperative effort to put the final regulation into effect and bring about the improvements that IoM has recognized are so clearly needed.
Further delay can only needlessly injure patients.