Gender Imbalance in Organ Transplants
Organ transplantation decisions are being scrutinized for gender-based disparities. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) has issued an advisory to address this issue.
Key Statistics
- Women accounted for 63% of living donor transplants in 2023.
- However, women comprised:
- 24% of heart transplant beneficiaries
- 47% of lung transplant beneficiaries
- 37% of kidney transplant beneficiaries
- 30% of liver transplant beneficiaries
- 26% of pancreas transplant beneficiaries
- Over the past five years, women made 36,038 of the 56,509 living organ donations, benefiting in only 17,041 cases.
NOTTO's Advisory
- NOTTO's recommendation aims to correct gender imbalances by giving additional points in allocation criteria to women patients on the waiting list.
- This move, although well-intentioned, faces potential procedural challenges.
Implementation Challenges
- Current protocols prioritize recipients based on health, not gender.
- No provisions exist for prioritizing women or relatives of previous donors.
- Questions arise on defining 'near relatives' and the eligibility of families involved in cadaveric organ donations since 1995.
Concerns and Considerations
- Potential misuse for out-of-turn allotments amid existing organ harvesting issues.
- Importance of inclusivity and tackling entrenched patriarchal norms.
- Necessity for a participative process with various agencies for proper implementation.
- Adherence to health-based priority to ensure those with the greatest need are not denied.
