U.S. Government Announces Transplant Initiative
January 3, 1998 - 0:0
WASHINGTON The U.S. government backed an initiative on Monday aimed at encouraging Americans to donate their organs for transplant. U.S. vice president Al Gore and U.S. Health and Human Services secretary Donna Shalala said while technology was making organ transplants easier, too few organs were available. "Too often families choose not to donate simply because they haven't had a discussion to determine their loved one's wishes," Gore said in a statement.
"We want this initiative to encourage more families to have these dialogues to understand their loved ones' wishes and help save lives." The Health and Human Services Department said 4,000 Americans died while waiting for an organ transplant in 1996, up from 1,500 in 1988. "Organ transplant techniques today are saving and improving thousands of lives every year, but not enough organs are available to help everyone in need, and more Americans are dying while awaiting an organ transplant," Shalala said.
"We are missing literally thousands of opportunities for donation every year. We need to do more," she added. "Just signing a donor card isn't enough. You must tell your family. If we should die suddenly, it's our families who must speak for us on organ donation." The American Medical Association, representing U.S. doctors, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Bar Association, the American Association of Health Plans and other groups joined the initiative, which aims to encourage donations by working with patients and health-care workers.
Doctors and other hospital workers will be urged to report deaths to organ banks. It draws on initiatives that have worked. Several studies have shown that having a trained professional on hand to counsel bereaved families can help encourage them to donate. The HHS cited a gallup study that said nearly all Americans would donate a relative's organ if they knew that person would have wanted to, while just half would if they did not know the person's preference.
About 20,000 Americans received organ donations in 1996, but more than 55,000 are on a national waiting list. Research published last week showed organ transplants were highly successful, with more than 90 percent of people receiving kidney transplants surviving for more than a year. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, known for its pioneering organ transplant work, said a single donor could provide up to 25 different organs and tissues, from a heart to bone marrow.
"Having the support of the government will help us to reach all of those who are important in the donation process, hospital staff key among them," said Dr. John Fung, chief of transplant surgery at the center. (Reuter)
"We want this initiative to encourage more families to have these dialogues to understand their loved ones' wishes and help save lives." The Health and Human Services Department said 4,000 Americans died while waiting for an organ transplant in 1996, up from 1,500 in 1988. "Organ transplant techniques today are saving and improving thousands of lives every year, but not enough organs are available to help everyone in need, and more Americans are dying while awaiting an organ transplant," Shalala said.
"We are missing literally thousands of opportunities for donation every year. We need to do more," she added. "Just signing a donor card isn't enough. You must tell your family. If we should die suddenly, it's our families who must speak for us on organ donation." The American Medical Association, representing U.S. doctors, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Bar Association, the American Association of Health Plans and other groups joined the initiative, which aims to encourage donations by working with patients and health-care workers.
Doctors and other hospital workers will be urged to report deaths to organ banks. It draws on initiatives that have worked. Several studies have shown that having a trained professional on hand to counsel bereaved families can help encourage them to donate. The HHS cited a gallup study that said nearly all Americans would donate a relative's organ if they knew that person would have wanted to, while just half would if they did not know the person's preference.
About 20,000 Americans received organ donations in 1996, but more than 55,000 are on a national waiting list. Research published last week showed organ transplants were highly successful, with more than 90 percent of people receiving kidney transplants surviving for more than a year. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, known for its pioneering organ transplant work, said a single donor could provide up to 25 different organs and tissues, from a heart to bone marrow.
"Having the support of the government will help us to reach all of those who are important in the donation process, hospital staff key among them," said Dr. John Fung, chief of transplant surgery at the center. (Reuter)