Transplant Options In The Face Of Shortage

Calling the shortage of organs available for transplant anything less than a crisis would unfairly downplay the issue. Someone is added to the national waitlist every ten minutes. With 114,604 men, women and children on the transplant list in the United States, we face a serious problem. The number of patients waiting for a heart alone is 71,513. Of those who are waiting for organs, 20 people die every day.

As the demand for organs increases, due in part to an aging population, it is the job of medical scientists to address this shortage and develop a solution. In the above video pioneering surgeon, Susan Lim discusses her research as she looks to expand the availability of the gift of life. As the first surgeon in Asia to complete a successful cadaveric liver transplant procedure, Dr. Lim is ideally positioned to discuss the ethics, history, and future of transplantation. 

Sources: UNOS