TY - JOUR

T1 - Could the organ shortage ever be met?

AU - Levitt, Mairi

N1 - (evidence on PDF publisher final version above) The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40504-015-0023-1

PY - 2015/7/23

Y1 - 2015/7/23

N2 - The organ shortage is commonly presented as having a clear solution, increase the number of organs donated and the problem will be solved. In the light of theNorthern Ireland Assembly’s consultation on moving to an opt-out organ donorregister this article focusses on the social factors and complexities which impactstrongly on both the supply of, and demand for, transplantable organs. Judging by the experience of other countries presumed consent systems may or may notincrease donations but have not met demand. Donation rates have risenconsiderably in all parts of the UK recently but there is also an increasing demandfor organs. Looking at international donation rates and attitudes, future demand for organs and education on donation, the question is whether the organ shortage could ever be met. The increase in longevity, in rates of diabetes and obesity and in alcohol related liver disease all contribute both to increased demand for transplants, and re-transplants, and a reduction in the number of usable organs. It is unlikely that demand could ever be met, since, if supply was unlimited, the focus would move to financial resources and competing demands on the health care budget in a publicly funded health system. These factors point to the need to focus on ways of reducing, or at least stabilizing, demand where lifestyle factors contribute to the underlying disease.

AB - The organ shortage is commonly presented as having a clear solution, increase the number of organs donated and the problem will be solved. In the light of theNorthern Ireland Assembly’s consultation on moving to an opt-out organ donorregister this article focusses on the social factors and complexities which impactstrongly on both the supply of, and demand for, transplantable organs. Judging by the experience of other countries presumed consent systems may or may notincrease donations but have not met demand. Donation rates have risenconsiderably in all parts of the UK recently but there is also an increasing demandfor organs. Looking at international donation rates and attitudes, future demand for organs and education on donation, the question is whether the organ shortage could ever be met. The increase in longevity, in rates of diabetes and obesity and in alcohol related liver disease all contribute both to increased demand for transplants, and re-transplants, and a reduction in the number of usable organs. It is unlikely that demand could ever be met, since, if supply was unlimited, the focus would move to financial resources and competing demands on the health care budget in a publicly funded health system. These factors point to the need to focus on ways of reducing, or at least stabilizing, demand where lifestyle factors contribute to the underlying disease.

KW - Organ donation

KW - Organ shortage

KW - Organ trasnplant

KW - Presumed consent

KW - Northern Ireland

U2 - 10.1186/s40504-015-0023-1

DO - 10.1186/s40504-015-0023-1

M3 - Journal article

VL - 11

SP - 1

EP - 6

JO - Life Sciences, Society and Policy

JF - Life Sciences, Society and Policy

SN - 2195-7819

IS - 6

ER -