U.S. transplant waiting list now over 120,000

There are now over 120,000 people waiting for organ transplants in the United States, up from 115,000 only 14 months ago. Over half of the people who need transplants will die before they get one.

Next year over 50,000 people will join the waiting list, but less than 30,000 people will receive transplants.

Only about half of adult Americans are registered organ donors. Every year, about 20,000 transplantable organs are buried or cremated instead of being donated. Every year, over 10,000 Americans die because they couldn’t get an organ transplant.

Everyone willing to receive an organ transplant to live should be willing to donate their organs after they die. Everyone can offer to donate their organs when they die, no matter what their medical history or condition. By offering their organs first to other registered organ donors, LifeSharers members create an incentive for non-donors to become donors. Membership is free and open to all at www.lifesharers.org.

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In Israel, giving organ donors priority leads to more organ donors

According to an article in the Jerusalem Post:

Giving people who registered as potential organ donors higher priority in receiving organs if they need them has significantly increased the number listed with ADI/National Transplant Center.... 

According to the center’s annual report released by the Health Ministry on Wednesday, more than 100,000 more individuals joined the registry in 2012. The total number of Israelis with ADI cards has reached an unprecedented 717,300 people. In addition, over 50 people on the ADI list who needed an organ transplant themselves received one by getting higher priority for it.

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