Bill would allow studies on organ donation incentives

Opponents say financial incentives for families of cadaveric donors might deter living donors.

By Andis Robeznieks, AMNews staff. Aug. 11, 2003.

More than a month after a hearing on the subject, and more than a year after the American Medical Association endorsed the concept, U.S. Rep. James Greenwood (R, Pa.) has introduced a bill that would allow studies to determine whether financial incentives could increase cadaveric organ donations.

The AMA and other groups have pushed for these studies, but current federal law forbids financial compensation for organ donation. So before anything else can be done, the law needs to be changed so incentives can be offered and studies can be conducted on their effects. Greenwood's bill would grant U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson the power to authorize demonstration projects to study the impact of financial incentives on organ donation.

Greenwood introduced a similar bill last year, and Robert M. Sade, MD, a member of the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, said CEJA recommended that it be more specific. Instead of having vague references to demonstration projects, Dr. Sade said the bill should have authorized specific studies scientifically designed to answer a particular question.

Although the vague language of last year's bill is repeated in this year's version, Dr. Sade said it is still worthy of support. "I would rather they would have done everything CEJA had recommended, but it's such a major step in the right direction I would be pleased if the bill -- as it is -- passes," said Dr. Sade, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.