PRESS RELEASE FROM KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL
(www.nature.com/ki/)
This press release is copyrighted to the International Society of
Nephrology's (www.isn-online.org) flagship journal Kidney International,
published in partnership with Nature Publishing Group.
Doctors respond to legal sale of kidneys
DOI: 10.1038/sjki.5000278
DOI: 10.1038/sjki.5000281
DOI: 10.1038/sjki.5000280
Three commentaries responding to a call for legalized organ donation are
published online this week by Kidney International, the official journal of
the International Society of Nephrology. The doctors develop arguments
presented by E A Friedman's article suggesting a legal organ market,
published online last month.
FL Delmonico looks at the "system failures" that have lead to the current
state of patients in need of transplants outnumbering available kidneys.
Not only have campaigns to increase organ donations been unsuccessful, but
many of the patients on the waiting list for kidneys could have benefited by
preventative care. AP Monaco furthers the case for compensated organ
donation and details potential policy on the matter. Monaco points out that
buying and selling organs implies a financial negotiation between recipient
and donor and prices that reflect variations in value and quality; instead
of a free market, Monaco says we need a government-regulated, scrupulously
supervised program in which a donor receives a fixed reward for organ
donation. DW Landry suggests strategies to increase voluntary altruism,
such as an emphasis on reciprocity: individuals who agree to donate their
organs in the event of death may restrict the recipients to other organ
donors.
The three commentaries bring new elements to Friedman's article, which
presented the arguments against organ sales and made a case in favor of it.
The authors hope their suggestions could lower dialysis costs and save
lives.
Author contact
FL Delmonico, (Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA)
Tel no: +1 617 726 2825, E-mail: [email protected]
AP Monaco (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA)
Tel no: +1 617 632 9700, E-mail: [email protected]
DW Landry (Columbia University, New York, NY)
Tel no: +1 212 305 2436, E-mail: [email protected]
Editorial contact
Kristen O'Toole (Assistant Editor, Academic Journals) Nature Publishing Group, New York, NY, USA)
Tel no: +1 212 726 9628; E-mail: [email protected]
PRESS CONTACTS...
For media inquiries relating to embargo policy for the Journal Kidney
International:
Ruth Francis (Nature London)
Tel: +44 20 7843 4562; E-mail: [email protected]
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