Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Increasing Incentives to Donate Organs

Continuing our interest in the issue of organ donation, here's some promising news from Israel. The country now gives higher priority in receiving donated organs to those who have volunteered to donate themselves. Close relatives of volunteers also receive higher priority.

The story quotes the head of science and ethics at the British Medical Association, who has some concerns. "Once you start prioritising certain groups, for example those that sign up to the organ register, patients who are really sick and in danger of dying if they don't receive an organ may end up being pushed to the back of the queue".

I think this really misses the point. If you don't do something to increase donation rates, patients who are really sick and dying aren't going to get an organ.

(HT: Marginal Revolution)

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