Ethical Incentives — Not Payment — For Organ Donation

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Abstract
The therapeutic promise of transplanting organs from cadaveric donors, as envisioned by the pioneers of transplantation,1 has never been realized because the demand for cadaveric organs has far exceeded the supply. The waiting list for organ transplants continues to grow, and in 2000, nearly 5000 patients were removed from the list because of death.2 Consequently, many patients with end-stage organ failure are no longer relying solely on the waiting list. Instead, they are turning to spouses, friends, or strangers as possible donors — a medically acceptable alternative because advances in immunosuppression have eliminated the requirement of a genetic match for . . .