Further, simple educational policy changes in more than 30 European organ donation programs were sufficient to significantly increase the number of donors. Usually by simple, low-technology changes in public attitudes and policies. Liberalization of organ donor acceptance criteria is a first step. American OPOs use highly restrictive standards. Individuals over the age of 65 account for 73 percent of U.S. deaths, but only 5 percent of organ donors.
Many current limitations based on age and health contribute more to the problem than the solution.
There needs to be greater use of partial organ donations, especially for those patients needing a new liver. Several economists and lawyers have proposed providing financial incentives or rewards to promote organ donation. Such payments would be made if the organs were retrieved and used. Current estimates suggest that such financial incentives might produce up to 80,000 organ donations each year-enough to meet current clinical demands. Evidence from Egypt and India suggests such inducement works, involving a contract for sale of organs upon the donor's death.