Organ transplantation is often the only treatment for end state organ
failure, such as liver and heart failure. Although end stage renal
disease patients can be treated through other renal replacement
therapies, kidney transplantation is generally accepted as the best
treatment both for quality of life and cost effectiveness. Kidney
transplantation is by far the most frequently carried out
transplantation globally.
The procurement of organs for transplantation involves the
removal of organs from the bodies of deceased persons. This removal must
follow legal requirements, including the definition of death and
consent.
Kidney donation by well selected living donors with good health
coverage carries negligible risks. This can only be ensured through
rigorous selection procedures, careful surgical nephrectomy and follow
up of the donor to ensure the optimal management of untoward
consequences.
The Transplantation Society
adopted a consensus statement on the care of the live kidney donor,
prepared by a forum involving over 100 experts from more than 40
countries from around the world, in which representatives of WHO
participated. This consensus statement addresses the responsibility of
communities for living donors. In particular it defines the
responsibilities of the transplant centre which is charged, inter alia,
with facilitating the long-term follow up of living kidney donors and,
if need be, their treatment, with identifying and tracking complications
that may be important in defining risks for informed consent disclosure
(Consensus Statement of the Amsterdam Forum [pdf 100kb] on the care of the live kidney donor).
The welfare of the live kidney donor is largely neglected in
schemes where disadvantaged individuals are exploited and encouraged to
sell their kidneys.
Resolution WHA57.18.
(2004) acknowledges the risk of exploitation of live kidney donors and
urges Member States to "protect the poorest and vulnerable groups from
transplant tourism and the sale of tissue and organs" and requests the
Director-General to provide support for Member States in this endeavour.
Source Link: http://www.who.int/transplantation/organ/en/
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