A Solution For Organ Donation Shortage

Kidney Organ Donors Those who are living can donate an organ such as a kidney but it's not easy to leave a job to help save a life.

by Kesshia Peyton

Published: Tue, October 21, 2008 - 9:50 am CST Last Updated: Tue, October 21, 2008 - 9:55 am CST

Those who are living can donate a kidney, but it's not easy to leave a job to help save a life.
With a nationwide shortage of organ donors, some doctors believe they might have a solution.
The the American Society of Transplantation would like to see more employers willing to grant paid leave to employees willing to donate organs.
"That sort of reassures most living donors, say, 'Hey, you have four weeks of paid leave after your donation.' I think that gives them a peace of mind," said transplant surgeon Dr. Henkie Tan.
Doctors believe paid leave could ease the chronic shortage of organs by encouraging more living donors.
The American Society of Transplantation is urging congress to adopt a universal "organ donor leave act."
Over half the kidneys transplanted in the U.S. since last year have come from live donors.

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carl Says:

Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 10:57 am

Sounds like a good Idea but I’m not sure how many businesses could afford to pay for 4 weeks of going through a transplant donation and recovery time not to mention the possible insurance rate increase for the employers. You would probably need some kind of help from the feds to offset the costs.