Do Americans think the organ allocation system is fair?

The Coalition on Donation surveyed 4,500 Americans on organ donation issues in 2005. According to an article about the survey in the January-February issue of UNOS Update, "80% of respondents question the fairness of the organ allocation system."

This is a staggering figure, and it may help explain why organ donation rates remain as low as they are. The article on the survey didn't explain why people question the fairness of the system. It would be interesting to find out why. I know a lot of people think celebrities (Mickey Mantle, for example) get special treatment, and that may have something to do with it.

Would more people trust the organ allocation system if organs were given first to registered organ donors? I think they would.

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