The Government's Plan To Fix A Broken Organ Transplant System

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4.3 • 4.5K Ratings

🗓️ 28 March 2023

⏱️ 41 minutes

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Summary

Last week, the government announced plans to completely overhaul the organ transplant system in America. This includes breaking up The United Network for Sharing Organs (UNOS)'s multi-decade monopoly.

For those who need an organ transplant, the process is far from easy. On average, 17 people die each day awaiting transplants. More than 100,000 people are currently on the transplant waiting list according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. UNOS has been criticized for exacerbating the organ shortage. An investigation by the Senate Finance Committee released last year found that the organization lost, discarded, and failed to collect thousands of life-saving organs each year.

We discuss the government's plan for overhaul and what it means for those whose lives are on the line.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	For nearly 40 years, the United Network for Sharing Organes, or UNOES, has controlled
0:14.2	the Oregon Transplant System.
0:16.2	But that's about to change.
0:18.1	Last week, the government announced plans to completely overhaul the system by breaking
0:22.3	up the network's multi-decade monopoly.
0:25.3	For those who need an Oregon transplant, the process is far from easy.
0:29.4	17 people die each day awaiting transplants.
0:33.2	More than 100,000 people are currently on the transplant waiting list, according to
0:37.4	the Health Resources and Services Administration.
0:40.6	And that number includes some of you.
0:42.8	Hi, my name is Robin Flannery.
0:44.8	I'm calling from New Orleans, Louisiana.
0:46.9	I have stage four cirrhosis caused by Nash.
0:49.9	I have been this way for eight years.
0:51.9	I have gone through four transplant evaluations.
0:54.6	I have watched old white men, so I addicted to alcohol, get a liver, and not me.
1:01.4	And I'm suffering and almost dead now.
1:03.6	I'm only 59 years old.
1:05.3	I've had every decomposition a human can have and have still been denied for no reason.
1:11.3	I am almost broke because of this.
1:13.5	Health care should be a right, not a privilege.
1:16.0	Robin, thank you for sharing your story with us.
	...

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