Transforming organ donation and transplantation: Strategies for increasing donor participation and system efficiency

• Published in: European journal of internal medicine 2024-11
• Main Authors: Olawade, David B., Marinze, Sheila, Qureshi, Nabeel, Weerasinghe, Kusal, Teke, Jennifer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Donor Registration; Organ Allocation; Organ Shortage; Organ Transplantation; Public Awareness
• ISSN: 0953-6205; 1879-0828; 1879-0828
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2024.11.010

•Organ transplantation faces critical shortages due to low donor registration.•System inefficiencies and logistical delays lead to missed transplant opportunities.•Opt-out registration systems could boost donor numbers and save lives.•Psychological and ethical support for donors is essential for boosting trust.•Streamlining logistics in organ transport ensures timely and successful transplants. Organ transplantation is a critical medical procedure that saves and improves lives, yet the system faces significant challenges that result in many missed opportunities. This comprehensive review examines the factors contributing to these missed opportunities and the concerns of potential donors. The shortage of donors remains a major issue, exacerbated by low registration rates, family consent refusals, and strict medical and health criteria. Inefficiencies within the organ procurement and transplantation process, including logistical delays and suboptimal matching systems, further hinder the availability of organs. Public misconceptions and cultural and religious beliefs also negatively impact donor willingness. Moreover, potential donors and their families face ethical, psychological, and procedural concerns. Ethical dilemmas revolve around issues of autonomy and informed consent, while psychological concerns include fear and anxiety about the donation process and its impact on families. Procedural issues, such as transparency, legal hurdles, and post-donation follow-up, add to the complexities of organ donation. This review explores potential solutions to address these challenges, such as enhancing public education campaigns to dispel myths, and providing incentives for proactive registration. It also recommends improving the performance of organ procurement organizations, optimizing logistics for organ transport, and developing advanced matching algorithms to ensure equitable organ allocation. Addressing donor concerns through robust ethical standards, comprehensive psychological support, and clear communication strategies is essential. By adopting these multifaceted strategies, the organ transplantation system can be made more efficient and supportive, increasing the availability of organs and ultimately saving more lives. This review underscores the need for integrated and targeted approaches to overcome the existing barriers in organ transplantation.