How are organs allocated?
• A national allocation system ensures the fair distribution of organs in the United States. Social and financial data are not part of the allocation system. • People eligible to receive organs are identified based upon many factors including blood and tissue typing, medical urgency (severity of illness), time on waiting list, other medical criteria, and geographical location. • Race, gender, age, ethnicity, income, or celebrity status is not factors in determining who receives an organ or tissue transplant. Additionally, the law strictly prohibits buying and selling of organs for transplantation. • Organs, eyes and tissues are given to people who need them the most: • at the local level, • the region, and • all over the country.
