AMA adopts new policy to increase organ donation nationwide

HONOLULU — With the need for donated organs far exceeding the number available for transplantation in the U.S., the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted policy during its Interim Meeting this week aimed at increasing organ donation rates — particularly among minority populations with historically low donation rates.

While reports show that the vast majority of U.S. adults support organ donation, only about half are actually registered as organ donors and only three in 1,000 of those registered actually become donors after death. Given the significant need to increase the number of organs available for donation, the AMA’s new policy calls for the development of public education programs that are tailored to address the factors that most influence people’s attitudes toward organ donation in order to improve their willingness to donate.