Is there really a shortage of kidney transplant donors?
Yes. There is no shortage of volunteers who wish to donate a kidney. Typically, when a kidney patient is in a secure family, as many as five family members volunteer as organ donors. However, many live organ donors are disqualified. Possible donors go through an intense screening process and thorough medical exam. Reasons for disqualification are many, and often beyond the volunteer’s control. Just a few examples: Insufficient “matches” in the initial blood testing. If your body chemistry doesn’t match the recipient’s, there is too great a risk the recipient will reject the new kidney. Grandparent had diabetes. That means the donor is high risk of contracting diabetes. Diabetes causes kidney failure. Lifestyle. Consumption of narcotics, alcohol, or prescription drugs result in disqualification. Previous medical conditions, or problems with current health. One thing the doctors do not want is TWO renal patients. It is true that the human body can live normally with only one kidney. In f
