Solving Organ Shortages Proposal Essay

Solving Organ Shortages There are many known reasons for the shortage of organ donations in America. For years, America has struggled with an organ shortage crisis, and is likely to continue to struggle moving forward. In 1984, the U.S Congress passed the (NOTA) National Organ Transplant Act. This act was passed to address the organ donation crisis and to also improve the organ matching process (Health Resources & Services Administration, 2021). This act opened doors for many people. The National Organ Transplant Act increased the number of available donors, increased the number of willing donors, and decreased the number of deaths that were caused by the lengthy transplant waiting list. Unfortunately, the National Organ Transplant Act does not diminish the reoccurring problems that cause a shortage of human organ donations in America. The shortage of human organs is a huge problem that is caused by a long transplant waiting list, lack of available donors/ the black market, and religious beliefs. Solving the shortage of human organ donations in America would increase the number of available organs needed which would decrease the length of the transplant waiting list, diminish the dangers of the black market, and people would be educated on how their religious beliefs are not affected by donating organs. Transplant Waiting List The high number of individuals on the transplant waiting list is a major problem that causes a shortage of human organ donations. Approximately 107,000 individuals are on the waiting list. That includes men, women, and children. Of those people, only 39,000 transplants were performed in 2020, leaving 17 individuals to die each day (Organ Donation Statistics, n.d.). Every nine minutes, another person is added to the transplant waiting list (Organ Donation Statistics, n.d.). The length of the transplant waiting list poses a problem because it forces individuals who are in desperate need for an organ to have to wait. The unavailability of adequate organs for transplantation to meet the existing demand has resulted in an organ shortage, causing an increase in the number of patients on transplant waiting lists as well as in the number of individuals dying while on the waiting list (Abouna, 2008). “Every donor can save eight lives, and enhance over 75 more” (Organ Donation Statistics, n.d.). The transplant waiting list is something that continues to grow every day. Someone on the transplant waiting list for a kidney could be stuck waiting for three to five years, if not longer. Some of the facts that affect ones wait time are how well they match with the available kidney, their blood type, and how many donors are available in their local area. Individuals waiting for an organ on the transplant waiting list can experience unfortunate health conditions because of the lack of available donors. There are multiple ways to decrease the length on the transplant waiting list. For starters, in 2001, the Department of Health and Human Services set in motion the National Gift of Life Donation, which was an initiative to increase the donation of organs, tissue, marrow, and blood (Kalil, Erickson, et al., 2016). Then in 2007, the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) started funding the National Living Donor Assistance Center to lower financial barriers to living organ donation (Kalil, Erickson, et al., 2016). In 2010, the Affordable Care Act offered security to living donors, making it so that insurers could not deny health coverage to someone with a preexisting condition which includes having donated an organ. In 2013, the bipartisan Hope Act marked the first transplants in the United States between HIV-positive donors and recipients. Lastly, in 2016, the White House held an Organ Summit to highlight commitments from diverse stakeholders to reduce the waiting list (Kalil, Erickson, et al., 2016). These are just a few ways to solve the shortage of human organs being donated, which would decrease the length of the transplant waiting list. Lack Of Available Donors/ Black Market The shortage of human organs accessible for transplant is because of the lack of available organ donors. Many individuals do not consider donating their organs, leaving many people in need. The shortage of organ donors is very tough and leaves people no choice but to look elsewhere for an organ. That could be for an organ that they may need for themselves or for a loved one. The Black Market is well known in the organ donation world. It is known for buying and selling organs. “The shortage of organs available for donation from unrelated donors has led to the macabre Black Market that exists today” (Stier, 2007). Many of the individuals that turn to the Black Market for an organ transplant put themselves at risk for infections and surgical complications in overseas medical procedures (Martin, 2019). These individuals that are turning to the Black Market feel like they have no choice because of the lack of available donors. There are some individuals that are fortunate enough to have family or friends willing to donate an organ. However, if one is unlucky and does not have those options, then there is no legal way to improve their chances in the painfully slow race against death (Stier, 2007). Along with the risk of infection, the Black Market costs a pretty penny. Kevin Martin states, “for an organ, an operation, and recuperation time, that could run anywhere from 20,000 dollars to 200,000 dollars overall” (Martin, 2019). If there were more people willing to donate organs, and the transplant waiting list was not so long, then the Black Market would be eliminated. Eliminating the Black Market could be done, with just a few steps. One, developing better systems for deceased organ donation. Two, encouraging altruistic organ donation. Three, preventing the need for transplantation by treating diseases before they lead to organ failure. Those could be diseases such as diabetes and hepatitis. Lastly, implementing laws that prohibit organ trading and trafficking (Daley, 2012). Getting rid of the Black Market means many positive things, especially solving the shortage of human organ donations. Religious Beliefs Deciding whether to be an organ donor is something that one should decide on their own, as it is a personal decision. Although choosing to be an organ donor is a personal choice, an individual should also discuss it with their loved ones, so no one is caught off guard. An individual could also speak to their faith leader (Organdonor.gov, 2021). One of the major issues people might worry about is whether being an organ donor is acceptable with their religion. All major religions in the United States support the donation of organs as a final act of compassion and generosity (Donate Life, n.d.). Assembly of God, Baptist, Buddhism, and Catholicism are among the many religions that support organ donations (Donate Life, n.d.). Also, faith leaders from many of those religions participate in the National Donor Sabbath, which is an annual observance held two weekends before Thanksgiving to inform people about the critical organ donation shortage, and to celebrate life and pray for individuals affected by donation and transplantation (Donate Life, n.d.). Even though religions allow individuals to be organ donors and support the donation of organs, it is still up to the individual to want to make that choice. Solving the Shortage of Organ Donations There are many ways to solve the shortage of organ donations. For starters, educating people on organ donations would open doors and increase the number of people willing to donate their organs. Doing so would not only increase the number of organs available for donation, but it would also decrease the number of individuals on the transplant waiting list. Another way to ensure that there would be more organ donors would be for more states to participate in things like the National Organ Transplant Act. Also, putting a system intact could also help to diminish the shortage of organ donations. Jeff Stier states, “A regulated system that creates incentives for donors, whatever those incentives may be, would save lives, reduce the shortages that promote the black market, and level the playing field, by helping all potential recipients, not just those who can afford a trip to Kidney Village” (Stier, 2007). Lastly, it should be a requirement for individuals to be organ donors. There is not a lot of issues that could stop an individual from being an organ donor. Many individuals are continuing to burn and bury organs instead of saving lives. Conclusion It is obvious that something needs to be done to improve the shortage of organ donations, as it is something that America struggles deeply with. A long transplant waiting list, lack of available organ donors/ the Black Market, and religious beliefs are issues that affect the shortage of organ donations. Educating individuals properly on organ donations, the black market, and their religious beliefs could not only diminish the shortage of organ donations, but it could also decrease the number of people that are sitting on the transplant waiting list. By increasing the number of available donors, the use of the Black Market could be eliminated. Eliminating the Black Market would decrease the number of health issues people could face after a transplant. Solving the organ shortage crisis could save the lives of many individuals. There are ways to do that which include educating individuals on the organ donation process, to have more states participate in acts such as the National Organ Transplant Act, creating incentives for donors, and making it a requirement for individuals to be organ donors.