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State of Idaho
Organ Donor Registry Policy Proposal
Executive Summary
It is a sad representation of this modern and supposedly socially enlightened nation that there is such a glaring, yet reparable, disparity between desperately needed organs and the number of organs that are donated. ... Now we are able to save and improve hosts of lives by the use of tissue and organ transplants. ...
This indictment is amplified even further when it is understood that many, if not most, people agree with the idea of organ donation and would gladly donate their organs upon their death were they aware of the simple, yet necessary, steps that are required to fulfill lawful and ethical requirements. Additionally, many people lack the convenient opportunity to make a conscious decision about organ donations. ... Even though some people declare to be potential organ donors, there is confusion concerning informed consent and advanced directives. Although there are states that recognize the signed driver’s license or the donor card as advanced directives, there are still concerns by Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), hospitals, and physicians regarding using advanced directives against surviving family members wishes. Also, family, financial, funeral, and religious concerns play an important part in the low numbers of potential organ donors. ... While the organ donor waiting list number rises, the number of organ donors continues to stay relatively constant nationwide.
Many states are passing legislation that brings organ donation into the spotlight, and they are seeing the numbers of organ donors in their states increase. ...
The Problem
Organ transplants are now considered a viable and effective means of treating many end-stage organ diseases, and many lives can and have been saved by the use of cadaveric organ transplants. ... In Idaho, the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicle information reflects that out of the 1,500,000 registered drivers and identification card holders, only 285,000 of them have elected to be potential organ donors and have their choice reflected on their driver’s licenses (Idaho Transportation Department ).
By extrapolating available data, it can be estimated that if a larger majority of donor deaths were effectively utilized, the “…national waiting list of over 71,000” (US Newswire) could be reduced by more than half. ... With organ donation it is not a literal requirement that a person die for each person that requires a needed organ. At the website of Organ Donor it states that one donor can “…save or enhance the lives of more than 50 people” (Organ Donor). ...
Literature review
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data reflects that nationwide there are approximately 73,000 people on the transplant waiting list (UNOS, Critical Data). As of January 2000, over 2000 person awaiting organ were “children under the age of 18 needing these life-sustaining organs” (California Transplant Donor Network (CTDN) 3). This list continues to grow year by year as technology and experience improves the viability and success of organ transplants. ... While these numbers are staggering, only about one-third of potential organ donors actually become donors. Each year there are approximately 15,000 people who die under conditions suitable for organ donation, but in 1998, only 5,799 became organ donors. During 1999 there were “only 5,848 donors nationwide” (Organ Donor).
There is an urgent need for organ donations; but this is especially true in regards to minorities. ... During 1998, only 2,000 African-Americans, 1,800 Latinos, 370 Asians, and 270 other nonwhites became organ donors (CTDN).
Approximate Word count = 2790
Approximate Pages = 11.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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