AAKP is seeking Congressional support of a bill, the Organ Donor Clarification Act of 2008, to amend the National Organ Transplant Act to clarify law related to incentives for organ donation. The bill is sponsored by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). The 1984 Act prohibits financial incentives for organ donation.
 
In letters to all 100 U. S. Senators, AAKP President Roberta Wager, RN, MSN, states, "As the waiting list for organs grows ever longer, it is time to allow government controlled trials of financial incentives to help increase the number of organ donors. A financial incentive is not necessarily a cash payment: for example, a donor could receive something as simple as lifelong health insurance, or families could receive funeral benefits for the deceased donors."
 
AAKP supports research studies on the effects of offering financial incentives for organ donation and believes this legislation would clear the way for pilot studies of incentives provided by federal and state governments. For information about this bill, visit the AAKP Web site.

This article originally appeared in the October 2008 issue of Kidney Transplant Today.