Organ shortage, are we doing our best?
Continuing organ shortage and ever-longer waiting lists have prompted the transplant community to adopt a broader than medical perspective in attempts at increasing the donor pool. Surveys conducted in various parts of the world reveal only a moderate acceptance of transplantation among medical professionals, a possible consequence of inadequate educational program at school/university level. General public awareness is low and efforts should be aimed at promoting a philosophy of sharing, reevaluating the traditional notion of the integrity of the human body, encouraging a readiness to fullfil an ever present social need through organ donation. Educational undertakings, in the long run, should modify the behaviour of society in making it better-informed and more sharing-oriented.
Department of Transplantation, Necker Hospital, Paris, France. fscantarovich@compuserve.com
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Cantarovich
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002102:Cadaver; D004501:Education, Medical; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014850:Waiting Lists