OPTN Statement regarding lung transplantation and pediatric priority

Transplant Pro

Recent media coverage has focused public attention on the needs of lung transplant candidates, especially those who are young children. Nearly 1,700 people nationwide await a life-saving lung transplant, including 30 children age 10 or younger. Unfortunately, due to the shortage of organ donors, many people must wait months or years for a transplant opportunity and some patients die without a transplant. Another 117,000 people are listed for other types of organ transplants.

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) manages the national Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) under federal contract. The OPTN is charged with developing national policy to distribute available organs among all waiting list candidates. OPTN allocation policy is applied consistently to allow all candidates an equitable opportunity to receive a transplant, recognizing that their individual medical needs and circumstances will vary.

Every transplant begins with someone’s selfless commitment to save the lives of others through organ donation. While policy continues to be developed and refined to best meet the needs of all candidates, the public can help meet the needs of all who continue to wait by making and sharing a personal commitment to donation. For more information about registering to be a donor, please visit http://www.organdonor.gov/becomingdonor/stateregistries.html?gclid=CP_9pfP5s7cCFYiDQgodoXMAVA. You can also register and share your commitment through http://www.facebook.com/help/organ-donation.

The biological needs and circumstances of candidates younger than age 12 are different from either adolescent or adult candidates. One key difference is the size and lung capacity of donors and patients among these age ranges.

______________________________________________________ 
"You have the power to SAVE lives." 
To register as a donor in California: 
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org 
Outside California: 
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.net

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