The U.S. organ transplant system, historically designed to allocate organs based on medical need, is failing to maintain fairness. Data shows that nearly 20% of all organ allocations last year bypassed patients at the top of waiting lists, often favoring less critically ill individuals who are predominantly white and more educated. As a result, many patients are left waiting longer for transplants they desperately need, with some ultimately dying before receiving a transplant. Each organ that becomes available generates a new waiting list, complicating the allocation process.
The U.S. transplant system, originally designed to allocate organs fairly, increasingly allows officials to skip patients at the top of waiting lists, undermining equity.
Last year, nearly 20 percent of organ allocations occurred out of sequence, impacting the sickest patients and leading to increased mortality for those on the waitlist.
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