Public Policy Governing Organ and Tissue Procurement in the United States
Authors: Laura A. Siminoff, Robert M. Arnold, Arthur L. Caplan, Beth A. Virnig, Debora L. Seltzer
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1995)

Articles1 July 1995Public Policy Governing Organ and Tissue Procurement in the United StatesResults from the National Organ and Tissue Procurement StudyLaura A. Siminoff, PhD, Robert M. Arnold, MD, Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, Beth A. Virnig, PhD, MPH, and Debora L. Seltzer, BALaura A. Siminoff, PhDFrom the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota., Robert M. Arnold, MDFrom the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota., Arthur L. Caplan, PhDFrom the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota., Beth A. Virnig, PhD, MPHFrom the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota., and Debora L. Seltzer, BAFrom the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-123-1-199507010-00037 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail A shortage of organs and tissues for transplantation has been present throughout most of the history of transplantation. As of 31 January 1995, 37 873 patients in the United States were awaiting solid-organ transplantation ([1]). It has been estimated that about one third of patients with heart or liver failure die before a transplantable organ is found ([2]). Other types of transplants are also scarce. On average, 3500 patients are awaiting corneal transplantation during any given month, and many more are awaiting transplants of bone, skin, and other tissues ([3]).The shortage will probably worsen as transplantation becomes more successful ...References1. UNOS update. 1995;;11:47. Google Scholar2. The Partnership for Organ Donation, Inc.. Solving the organ donor shortage: a report of the Partnership for Organ Donation. 1990. Google Scholar3. Caplan A, Siminoff L, Arnold R, Virnig B. Increasing organ and tissue donation: what are the obstacles, what are our options? Proceedings of the Surgeon General's Workshop on Increasing Organ Donation. 1991:199-232. Google Scholar4. Russell PS. Centers for transplantation: how many should we have? Surgery. 1986;100:867-76. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. Evans RW, Orians CE, Ascher NL. The potential supply of organ donors. An assessment of the efficiency of organ procurement efforts in the United States. JAMA. 1992;267:239-46. 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MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.Grant Support: By grant HS06579 from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research of the U.S. Department of Health.Corresponding Author: Laura A. Siminoff, PhD, University of Pittsburgh, Center for Medical Ethics, 3400 Forbes Avenue, Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.Current Author Addresses: Drs. Siminoff and Arnold and Ms. Seltzer: University of Pittsburgh, Center for Medical Ethics, 3400 Forbes Avenue, Suite 110, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.Dr. Caplan: University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics, 3401 Market Street, Suite 320, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3308.Dr. Virnig: University of Miami, Health Policy Research Center, 630 Alton Road, Suite 402, Miami, FL 33139. 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