ALLOCATING ORGAN TRANSPLANT SERVICES - WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM THE UNITED-STATES EXPERIENCE

Issues concerning organ procurement and transplantation in the United States are described and related to the Canadian health care environme nt. Although the United States has a national organ procurement system and national transplant guidelines are in place, many complications e xist regarding the allocation of organ transplant services. Current pr oposals to increase organ donation are critiqued and new guidelines ar e proposed for the organ transplantation system. These guidelines help to protect the right of access to these health resources among the so cially or economically disadvantaged. Given the similarities between t he United States and Canada in terms of population demographics and me dical treatment protocols, these guidelines an applicable to both coun tries in order to more appropriately blend economic and ethical criter ia to allocate organ transplantation services more efficiently and eff ectively.