title: Rewards for organ donation: the time has come.
abstract: Strategies to expand the pool of solid organs for transplantation have had only limited success. Waiting times exceeding 5 years and/or waiting mortality are not uncommon. A system of financial rewards for living and deceased organ donation is proposed. The reward program would be administered by the federal government. Donors or beneficiaries would receive a fixed financial reward, similar to the payout of an insurance policy, from a federal agency. Such a system would be consistent with similar financial rewards given in our society to recognize instances of personal self-sacrifice and risk taking performed for the benefit of others.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. amonaco@caregroup.harvard.edu
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Monaco
mesh_terms: D000533:Altruism; D006801:Humans; D019520:Living Donors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009042:Motivation; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000191:economics* / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012201:Reward; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000191:economics* / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014850:Waiting Lists