“Two major, interconnected problems afflict organ transplantation today: the widening gap between the demand for organs and their supply and the illegal, exploitative organ trade.
In the Declaration of Istanbul, adopted in 2008, the global transplant community agreed upon key ethical principles for organ donation and transplant, including prevention of organ trafficking and transplant tourism, equity in access and allocation, and financial neutrality in donation. These principles are promoted by the Declaration of Istanbul Custodian Group (DICG). They have been widely accepted by US and international transplant organizations, and align health care professionals with the standards adopted by intergovernmental bodies, such as the World Health Organization, which have promulgated standards for national legislation and regulations globally to counteract organ trade, protect donors and patients, and support transplant medicine overall. The principles were reiterated most recently in Resolution 77.4 on ‘increasing availability, ethical access and oversight of transplantation of human cells, tissues and organs,’ adopted by the World Health Assembly on June 1, 2024.”
Read more on The End Kidney Deaths Act Risks Irreversible Harm to Organ Donation via JAMA.
Family Medicine Residency Site: Abbotsford-Mission 