3,500 Donated Kidney Thrown Away Each Year in US, Study Finds
- 5 years ago
3,500 Donated Kidney Thrown
Away Each Year in US, Study Finds A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine
found that a total of 156,089 kidneys were donated
to transplant centers between 2004 and 2014. Only 128,102 of those kidneys were transplanted,
with over 27,000 being discarded. In 2016 the number of kidneys wasted
increased, with about 20 percent discarded. Researchers say the number of discarded
kidneys is due to “intense regulatory scrutiny.” This means that if a kidney isn’t in the
best shape, doctors are more reluctant
to perform the transplant procedure. Financial and regulatory reasons also play a role in
discarded kidneys, as older kidneys may cost more
to transplant and require a longer recovery period. Currently, there are 93,000 people
on the waiting list for
kidney transplants in
the United States. Roughly 5,000 people on the list die
each year, which is about 12 people a day.
Away Each Year in US, Study Finds A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine
found that a total of 156,089 kidneys were donated
to transplant centers between 2004 and 2014. Only 128,102 of those kidneys were transplanted,
with over 27,000 being discarded. In 2016 the number of kidneys wasted
increased, with about 20 percent discarded. Researchers say the number of discarded
kidneys is due to “intense regulatory scrutiny.” This means that if a kidney isn’t in the
best shape, doctors are more reluctant
to perform the transplant procedure. Financial and regulatory reasons also play a role in
discarded kidneys, as older kidneys may cost more
to transplant and require a longer recovery period. Currently, there are 93,000 people
on the waiting list for
kidney transplants in
the United States. Roughly 5,000 people on the list die
each year, which is about 12 people a day.