Potential Organ Recipients Sometimes Required To Provide Proof They Can Finance Follow-Up Treatment

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Nov. 17 examined the process of obtaining an organ for a transplant, which "isn't always as simple as getting a donor match" because it can require the potential recipient to demonstrate the "financial wherewithal" to maintain the organ and pay for follow-up treatment. According to the Journal-Constitution, depending on the transplant center, some patients may not be placed on a donor list until they have raised enough money to "maintain the organ after transplantation." In addition, once on the donor list, many transplant centers will not perform the transplant until the potential recipient has formulated a plan to pay for anti-rejection medicines. Because transplants have become "so successful" in recent years, patients live longer and require anti-rejection and other medications for longer periods. According to Joel Newman, a spokesperson for the United Network for Organ Sharing, the "vast majority" of organ recipients live at least five years after the surgery and require tens of thousands of dollars in post-procedure treatment. The National Foundation for Transplants helps potential recipients who lack the money to fund follow-up care by providing fund-raising ideas and recruiting volunteers. "People are shocked and alarmed to find out they have to have this money before they can get transplanted, and they don't know where to turn. It's just heartbreaking that we have to resort to this," Chris Starr, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation of Georgia, said (Bonds Staples, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 11/17).