To clarify (as Nancy mentioned), this is a pilot and if successful for non-directed donors, could be expanded to all living kidney donors (and would potentially increase the number of people receiving transplants). As a living kidney donor and nephrology nurse, I think it is a disgrace that donors currently PAY to donate kidneys through the expenses of travel, time off work, etc. Let the pilot begin and let's discover the actual outcomes before criticizing this payment method (to encourage more living donors.) And why is it okay to let thousands of people die each year on the transplant waiting list by doing nothing to incentivize donors? Our current system is failing and it is time for a new, bold action like the EKDA. No one intervention is going to fix our kidney crisis, so let's try out many optimization approaches and then determine the best ones that have the most positive impact. Preventing and getting people off dialysis by helping them receive a living donor transplant (and paying donors) will save money, so why not start there?
It appears obvious that we need to utilize different approaches as our current system is failing so many, resulting in needless suffering and death of thousands. This pilot program will evaluate the effectiveness, as well as reveal the problems, with providing incentives. This may be an ethical approach needed to address the critical kidney shortage.
Thanks Nancy, I agree something needs to change. And it seems several efforts happening in parallel this year might help us figure out how to right the ship. Appreciate you reading and thanks for the comment!
![Signals From [Space]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_36,h_36,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F55686857-6b99-45a6-ac0f-09c9f023f2a0_500x500.png)
![Signals From [Space]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/e_trim:10:white/e_trim:10:transparent/h_72,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4d588ac1-7fac-4bd4-829d-fc7b4e8f1326_1512x288.png)
To clarify (as Nancy mentioned), this is a pilot and if successful for non-directed donors, could be expanded to all living kidney donors (and would potentially increase the number of people receiving transplants). As a living kidney donor and nephrology nurse, I think it is a disgrace that donors currently PAY to donate kidneys through the expenses of travel, time off work, etc. Let the pilot begin and let's discover the actual outcomes before criticizing this payment method (to encourage more living donors.) And why is it okay to let thousands of people die each year on the transplant waiting list by doing nothing to incentivize donors? Our current system is failing and it is time for a new, bold action like the EKDA. No one intervention is going to fix our kidney crisis, so let's try out many optimization approaches and then determine the best ones that have the most positive impact. Preventing and getting people off dialysis by helping them receive a living donor transplant (and paying donors) will save money, so why not start there?
It appears obvious that we need to utilize different approaches as our current system is failing so many, resulting in needless suffering and death of thousands. This pilot program will evaluate the effectiveness, as well as reveal the problems, with providing incentives. This may be an ethical approach needed to address the critical kidney shortage.
Thanks Nancy, I agree something needs to change. And it seems several efforts happening in parallel this year might help us figure out how to right the ship. Appreciate you reading and thanks for the comment!