Ads and billboards are being more commonplace for those looking for organ donations
“As the number of organ donors doubled to 14,154 between 1992 and 2004, the number of patients on the waiting list tripled to more than 89,110, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Last year, about one in 12 of them died before receiving an organ.
Desperate to avoid the same fate, more and more patients are pleading for donations in classifieds and on the Internet. There are now hundreds of Web sites, with names like helpmygrandpa.com, and jimneedsakidney.com.”
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
These public appeals might be beneficial if they raise awareness of the need for organs, and improve the willingness of the public to donate.
Unfortunately, for those appeals requesting organs for a specific individual, it only increases the inequities in the distribution of limited resources (organs, funds, transplant center capacity). Currently transplantation tends to benefit those with insurance, money, and stable social situations. Now, must one also be photogenic and have a high sympathy factor to become an ‘eligible’ recipient of the public’s goodwill?