Transplant Networking

Posted on | June 1, 2007 | Comments Off on Transplant Networking

In a prior Health Politics program, I outlined the major disconnect between supply and demand in organ transplantation. The popular press since that time has shed light on the selling of organs and the various ethical and moral issues triggered by this often elicit practice.

Jim Tosone, avid subscriber to Health Politics and expert at the interface of health technology, health business, and health consumerism, notes a new angle:

“A good example of consumer-empowered innovation in healthcare is the LifeSharers organ donor program. It’s no secret that there is a shortage of organ donors, in part because the current organ donor system creates no incentives (beyond altruism) to be a donor. LifeSharers creates an incentive while avoiding the morally complex solution of buying and selling organs.

LifeSharers is a free, non-profit voluntary network of organ donors. When you join LifeSharers, you agree to be an organ donor specifically to other LifeSharers members. You, in turn, become eligible for organs from other LifeSharers members should you ever need one. LifeSharers donors have a better chance of receiving an organ than they would under the current national donor program, thereby creating the incentive to join. The program is only a year old, so it is small but growing rapidly. Their website is http://www.lifesharers.com/ and answers to FAQ’s can be found at http://www.lifesharers.org/faq.asp.”

What do you think? Is this a good way to go?