AMA says more data needed on options to boost organ donations

AMA delegates also approved new ethical guidelines on organ transplants from living donors.

By Damon Adams, amednews staff. July 18, 2005.

Chicago -- The American Medical Association in June said physicians should encourage and support pilot studies that investigate whether presumed consent and mandated choice could increase organ donations.

The new policy, which calls for support of such studies in relatively small populations, was passed by the Association's House of Delegates.

Under presumed consent, a person's willingness to donate is assumed unless he or she specifically withdraws consent. Mandated choice requires individuals to express a preference regarding organ donation. The policy said neither option should be widely implemented unless data suggest a positive effect on donations.

"At this time, there's not enough data to support a national plan of presumed consent or mandated choice for organ donation," AMA Trustee Peter Carmel, MD, said in a statement. "Last year alone, 7,060 patients on the national organ transplantation list died needlessly because organs were not available. If either of these programs can reduce that number, it's well worth further study."

Dr. Carmel said more than 88,000 patients are on waiting lists for organ transplants. The new policy also helps to raise awareness about the shortage of organ donations, he said.

AMA delegates also approved new ethical policy to serve as a guide to physicians involved in transplanting organs from living donors.

That policy states that every donor should be assigned an advocate team, which includes a physician, that is concerned with the well-being of the donor. The team should provide the donor with information regarding the donation procedure and spell out potential complications to the donor and to the recipient.

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» Organ network reviews kidney allocation policies  March 28
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The doctors are in the house
The AMA's House of Delegates is holding its Interim Meeting Nov. 7-10 in Houston, addressing issues such as health system reform and physician payment.
Meeting coverage - Slideshow