Proposed solution | Advantages | (Possible) disadvantages |
---|---|---|
Increase number of living donations | Minor increase in number of organs available | Poses risk to donors; Limited scope |
Opt-out consent to posthumous donation | Potential increase in number of organs available | May not reflect donors’ wishes; not always effective |
Mandatory donation after death | Substantial increase in number of organs available | Seen as disrespecting the dead and their families |
Ignore family veto of donation from registered donor | Respects wishes of would-be donors; increases availability of organs | Impractical; disrespects families |
Various incentives (such as tax breaks for donors) | Potential increase in number of organs available | Relatively untested; seen as removing altruistic motive |
Donation after cardiac death | Increases pool of potential donors | Donors might not be fully brain dead in some cases |
Market in human organs1 | Increase in pool of donors | Justice concerns |
Organs from transgene pigs | Increase in pool of organs | Sacrifice of pigs/zoonoses |
Lab-grown organs | No donor required | Higher risk of rejection |
Bionic organs | No donor required | Higher risk of rejection |
Chimaera organs | Lower risk of rejection than any other option | Requires sacrifice of pigs or primates |