As they search for solutions to the organ shortage, scientists are looking for ways to preserve donated organs longer. Some researchers have suggested increasing the organ supply through financial compensation for donors or lessening standards for donated organs, according to the report.
One controversial solution that has already been implemented in 25 European countries — including Spain, Belgium and France — is opt-out organ donation, or “presumed consent,” according to the report. Under such policies, every resident is automatically an organ donor unless they remove themselves from the list.
A 2012 study cited by STAT found opt-out policies can be extremely effective. Organ donation rates in countries with those policies exceed 90 percent, compared to non-opt-out countries, where organ donation rates are usually under 15 percent.
So far though, presumed consent policies have not gained traction in the U.S. And while the majority of Americans support organ donation, only about half are registered as donors. Connecticut and Texas introduced opt-out policies this year, but both states’ bills died. Colorado and Pennsylvania considered similar legislations in 2011 and 2014, respectively, but neither ended up implementing them.
However, some experts are doubtful opt-out policies would be very successful in the U.S. New England Donor Services President and CEO Alexandra Glazier said they could even cause the number of organ donations to drop, such as in Brazil and Sweden, where opt-out policies faced backlash.
“Although it’s well-intentioned, we think it could backfire,” Ms. Glazier said. “People might be put off and would opt out, not because they’re against donation but because they’re against government control of their bodies. There’s the potential for large numbers of people to opt out.”
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