JAMA Study Reports America’s “Opt-In” System is More Effective Than “Opt-Out” Approach in Other Countries
A recent analysis of organ donation rates around the world reports that four states, and the District of Columbia, lead the world in organ donation. D.C. donation rates rank an impressive 5th out of the study’s 90 national and international donation regions. Maryland and Virginia donation rates ranked 14th and 32nd respectively. The findings are published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
The
report, which found that nine of the top 10 performers were U.S. states and
D.C., looked at international donation rates per 10,000 deaths occurring in independent,
legal jurisdictions around the world. Among its findings was that regions that
have an “Opt-Out” program—where the government assumes under law that individuals
are donors unless they formally register their decision not to participate—
have donation rates that are 27 percent lower than the “Opt-In” regions, including
the U.S.
“In the U.S., we allow individuals to make a legally
binding decision to register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor and we
encourage them to share their decision with their loved ones,” said Lori
Brigham, President and Chief Executive Officer, Washington Regional Transplant
Community. “Opt-In donation also allows families to choose organ donation if
their loved one has not made a prior decision. This approach has proven to be
effective in helping to save more lives through donation.”
The
JAMA article identifies the
collaboration of U.S. Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs), donor hospitals,
state donor registries and 155 million Americans who have registered as donors
as the reasons for the U.S.’s donation success, which is evidenced by a 30% increase
in deceased organ donors—from 8,269 in 2013 to 10,722 in 2018.
This research identifies Spain as the only Opt-Out country ranked among the
highest performing U.S. states. The heads of Spain’s program attribute their
success not to Opt-Out but to their robust donation infrastructure and
exceptional hospital-based, donor family support system that offsets Spain’s
lack of a donor registry system.
The JAMA analysis supports national and local efforts to increase organ, eye
and tissue donor registration via public education and partnerships with local
DMVs and MVAs. Individuals can learn more about donation and can register to be a donor
at BeADonor.org.