Can people “buy” a better position on the waitlist?
No. The waitlist is controlled by the computer system. Wealth and celebrity cannot change a person’s position on the list. However, it is true that to be placed on the waitlist one must prove an ability to pay for the transplant surgery. Those without sufficient funds or insurance may not be listed. Such discrimination is prevalent in many types of surgery, and is a travesty of the current health system. We encourage everyone to write to politicians about this problem in American healthcare. Similarly, we encourage people to give generously when fundraisers are held for those in need of transplants.
