ABSTRACT
SNEZANA (ANA) MIJOVIC-DAS, MD, FASN Department of Nephrology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
Kidney transplantation is a medical miracle of the twentieth century. It has prolonged and improved the lives of hundreds and thousands of patients worldwide. Our better understanding of immune system as well as the availability of eective immunosuppressive therapy together with successful surgical procedures have made organ transplantation almost a routine medical
Introduction 117 Cultural Barriers to Kidney Transplantation 118 Organ Tracking and Transplant Tourism 118 Why We Should Oppose Organ Tracking 119 e Extent of Organ Tracking 120 Consequences to the Vendors 121 What Are the Alternatives? e Amsterdam Forum and the Iranian Model 121 Developing an Organ Donation System 122 Promising Practices 122 Financial Incentives to Promote Donation 122 Developing Laws and International Alliances 123 Developing Sensitivity for Human Rights 123 Reimbursing the Donor and Other Protection Measures 124 Conclusion 124 Appendix A: Medical Tourism: Organ Tracking and Kidney Transplantation 125
Pera Pop of Belgrade: A Case Study 125 Ana Mijovic-Das MD, Nephrology, AMC
Discussion Questions 127 Endnotes 127 References 129
procedure. It is the best way to treat patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who otherwise will spend the rest of their lives on dialysis if organ transplantation is not available. Altruistic donation of organs and tissues, “the gi¬ of life,” has been the main principle of transplantation since its beginning.
Despite the great success of kidney transplantation, there is a fair amount of frustration both in the transplant community and in the general public because of our inability to provide enough kidneys to address the needs of a rapidly growing population of patients with ESRD. e ongoing debate over the most eective response to organ shortage both in the United States and internationally is o¬en faced with the conclusion that the current system intended to be based on altruism has failed and only the system of ‹nancial incentives continues to thrive. Very o¬en in this debate, we tend to forget the important factors such as wide cultural dierences in organ donation practice in various regions in the United States and outside of it.
