government
Organ donation program seeks older Americans
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 4, 2012
Federal officials have begun a campaign to encourage seniors to consider registering for organ and tissue donor programs.
The outreach effort will focus on educating adults 50 and older about organ, eye and tissue donor registries, the Dept. of Health and Human Services said in a May 22 announcement. The campaign would work to dispel a myth that there are age limitations for organ donation.
“It’s important for everyone to know any age can be the right age to be an organ, eye and tissue donor,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH. “Imagine how many more lives we could save if the majority of the more than 99 million Americans 50 years old or older signed up to give the gift of life.”
People older than 50 accounted for 32% of organ donations in 2011, but they also accounted for 60% of the total number of transplant recipients, HHS said. The national transplant waiting list has grown to more than 114,000 people.
HHS will produce brochures, articles and public service announcements about being an organ donor. More information about the effort can be found on the program’s website (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/06/04/gvbf0604.htm.
