Task force proposes ‘presumed consent’ for organ donation in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Task Force on Pulmonary Hypertension is asking the state to add all residents to the organ donor list unless they opt out, WBUR reported July 5. 

Advertisement

The group is pushing for a “presumed consent” approach to increase the pool of available organs. 

“This change assumes everyone is a donor unless stated otherwise or unless people remove themselves from the organ donation list,” the June 14 task force report said, adding that Colorado, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Texas have all introduced such “opt out” legislation. 

The report also notes that while 95 percent of Americans are in support of organ donation, just 58 percent are registered donors. 

“We know that the vast majority of Americans do believe in organ donation, but never get to the point of filling out the form,” Aaron Waxman, MD, cardiologist at Boston-based Brigham and Women’s Hospital who helped write the task force report, told the news outlet. “This should open the door for more people to more often be donors.”

 

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

The 2 KPIs that drive readmissions — and how hospitals act on them in real time

Tuesday, August 11
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT

Presenter: Nik Rao, Dexur

Advertisement

Next Up in Patient Safety & Outcomes

Advertisement

Comments are closed.