The recent KFF News article (‘A Surgical Team Was About To Harvest This Man’s Organs – Until His Doctor Intervened’) is disturbing and highlights a lapse of communication in this patient’s care. Every donor and family deserve the highest standard of care, full transparency, and deep respect while navigating what is often one of the most emotional and difficult decisions they will ever face. As an organization, ASTS is committed to making the critical field of transplantation safe, equitable and accountable to patients.
It is vital to remember that organ donation saves tens of thousands of lives each year, and the overwhelming majority of transplants are carried out both ethically and successfully. While this case is an outlier, it underscores why appropriate oversight, adherence to clear standards, and greater transparency are essential to preserving and strengthening public trust in this life-saving system. ASTS supports these efforts and is committed to working closely with clinicians, patient advocates, regulators, and other key stakeholders to uphold accountability and reinforce the safety of the transplant process.
Most importantly, we honor the extraordinary generosity of donors and their families, whose selfless decisions bring hope and a second chance at life to so many. Their gift is sacred, and it is our responsibility as a field to protect and respect that trust.