Although the numbers of organ donors and transplantations inthe United States have more than doubled over the past 20 years(see line graph), the demand for organs continues to dwarf thesupply. In 2006, there were about 29,000 solid-organ transplantations;as of June 2007, there were about 97,000 people on waiting listsfor organ transplantation.
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Organ Donors and Transplantations in the United States, 1988–2006.
Data are from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.
About three of every four organs that are transplanted are recoveredfrom deceased donors. The most rapid increase in the rate oforgan recovery from . . . [Full Text of this Article]
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Dr. Steinbrook (rsteinbrook@attglobal.net) is a national correspondent for the Journal.
An interview with Francis Delmonico, chief of transplant services at Massachusetts General Hospital and medical director of the New England Organ Bank, and Michael Grodin, professor of health law, bioethics, and human rights at the Boston University School of Public Health can be heard at www.nejm.org.
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