Financial incentives could improve organ donation and reduce donor-recipient gap

Today, the AMA adopted policy calling for the modification of current law to allow pilot studies on financial incentives for cadaveric organ donation. The current law, the National Organ Transplantation Act, prohibits financial incentives for organ donation, stating that any motivation for donation other than altruism is unethical. The AMA already supports study into financial incentives for cadaveric organ donation.

"Today there are nearly 100,000 patients waiting for organ transplants of all types, and that number continues to grow," said AMA Board Member Joseph Annis, MD. "Exploring all ethical ways to increase the number of organ donations may save lives that may otherwise be tragically lost. Voluntary organ donation remains important, but motivational incentives that could increase organ donations — including financial incentives — must be studied."

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