Saving Lives Starts with an Organ Donation

American Liver Foundation
Thursday, 22 January 2004

American Liver Foundation Issues Two Policy Statements Urging Innovative Approaches to Encourage Organ Donation and Initiates Nationwide Letter Writing Campaign

Today, there are more than 82,000 people on the waiting list for life-saving organs. In particular, the demand for livers is projected to increase by more than 300% over the next decade due in part to the emerging impact of hepatitis C. However, the statistics show that tragically one out of every three children and adults who needs an organ transplant will die while waiting for one. In response to this growing crisis, the American Liver Foundations (ALF) has developed a nation-wide Organ Donation and Benefits initiative to encourage more people to consider becoming organ donors and to help reduce the number of patients that remain on the waiting list for life-saving organs. The initiative consists of two official ALF policy statements and a national letter-writing campaign to help bring the issue of organ donations to the forefront of public attention. The ALF is a nationwide organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of viral hepatitis and other liver diseases.

ALF's policy statement on organ donation consent and donation benefits can be found on-line at www.liverfoundation.org.

"This shortage of organ donors remains a major impediment to fulfilling the demand for life-saving transplantation," said Alan Brownstein, President and CEO, American Liver Foundation. "The ALF hopes that by creating this platform with our recommendations we can help to inspire thousands of people to consider becoming an organ donor and encourage people to talk seriously about organ donations with their families."

The new initiative will address the benefits, needs and concerns of organ donation. The platform will be implemented across the Foundation's 26 chapters and will target policy makers, public health officials, and the public with the critical message that increasing the number of living organ donors will sustain the lives of thousands who will otherwise die without a life-saving organ transplant.

The ALF Organ Donation and Benefits initiative is made up of several components, including official policy statements on organ donation consent and donation benefits, and a national letter writing campaign targeting media, policy makers, and potential donors.

Regarding Organ Donation benefits, the ALF resolves that:

Organs should not be bought or sold;

Donation of organs not be a financial burden to family or donors;

Financial or logistical obstacles be minimized to the extent possible for organ donations made voluntarily by families or donors;

Accommodations to achieve the above be referred to as "Donation Benefits," rather than termed as "inducements" or "incentives;"

Policy makers focus attention to considerations or benefits to donors that will increase the rates of donation and be equitable across society; and

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services define by regulation the meaning of "valuable consideration" per the National Organ Transplant Act and be empowered to authorize demonstration projects aimed at increasing organ donation rates applying the concept of valuable consideration but not the trafficking of human organs.

Regarding Organ Donation Consent, the ALF resolves that:

Policy makers need to actively explore different models of consent for organ donation, including presumed consent, and determine what model more effectively increases the level of donation consistent with societal values;

In making such a determination due regard should be given to the medical, legal, ethical, and psycho-social implications of the different models;

Education and outreach requirements of these different models need to be considered, and, physicians seeking consent of family members of individuals who have not made their organ donation decisions become familiar with:

• The need for donated organs
• The care of grieving families
• The proper medical/social screening of potential donors
• The decision making process and the tools to influence it;

Demonstration projects evaluating the potential impact of different consent models on organ donation need to be supported by the private and/or public sectors; and

The American Liver Foundation will identify steps to promote this resolution.

About the American Liver Foundation (ALF)

The ALF is a leading national voluntary health agency dedicated to the prevention and cure of viral hepatitis and other liver diseases through research, education, and advocacy on behalf of those at risk or affected by liver disease. The ALF's programs and services are supported by a nationwide network of state chapters. For additional information about organ donation, hepatitis and other livers diseases, contact the ALF at 1-800 GO LIVER or visit www.liverfoundation.org.

For more information, or to contact American Liver Foundation, see their website at: www.liverfoundation.org