Here's a sentence I was very glad to read yesterday:
"we commend Dr. Rees and colleagues for their creativity, integrity, beneficence, and tireless efforts to pioneer Global Kidney Exchange to demonstrate its feasibility. "
That is from a newly adopted position statement of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.
Some background:
In recent posts I've described how the discussion of Global Kidney Exchange (GKE) has developed since our article in the American Journal of Transplantation, including some opposition expressed in an accompanying editorial and subsequent letters. Now cooler heads have prevailed, and the Executive Committee of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (which publishes the AJT) has issued the following official position statement:
ASTS supports efforts to increase access to transplantation by increasing the organ supply and by removing biologic, logistical, geographical, and financial barriers. ASTS supports efforts by the global transplant community to increase access to transplant care through kidney exchanges across national boundaries. ASTS also supports constructive engagement with transplant stakeholders in the developing world. In that regard, the Society supports the conceptual basis behind Global Kidney Exchanges. Further, we commend Dr. Rees and colleagues for their creativity, integrity, beneficence, and tireless efforts to pioneer Global Kidney Exchange to demonstrate its feasibility. The Society acknowledges that there is potential for abuse, particularly in regard to patient selection, coercion, and equitable participation. ASTS encourages further investigation into the ethics, logistics, governance, and financial aspects of Global Kidney Exchange.
"we commend Dr. Rees and colleagues for their creativity, integrity, beneficence, and tireless efforts to pioneer Global Kidney Exchange to demonstrate its feasibility. "
That is from a newly adopted position statement of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.
Some background:
In recent posts I've described how the discussion of Global Kidney Exchange (GKE) has developed since our article in the American Journal of Transplantation, including some opposition expressed in an accompanying editorial and subsequent letters. Now cooler heads have prevailed, and the Executive Committee of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (which publishes the AJT) has issued the following official position statement:
ASTS Position on Global Kidney Exchanges
Drafted and finalized by the ASTS Executive Committee, October 2017
ASTS supports efforts to increase access to transplantation by increasing the organ supply and by removing biologic, logistical, geographical, and financial barriers. ASTS supports efforts by the global transplant community to increase access to transplant care through kidney exchanges across national boundaries. ASTS also supports constructive engagement with transplant stakeholders in the developing world. In that regard, the Society supports the conceptual basis behind Global Kidney Exchanges. Further, we commend Dr. Rees and colleagues for their creativity, integrity, beneficence, and tireless efforts to pioneer Global Kidney Exchange to demonstrate its feasibility. The Society acknowledges that there is potential for abuse, particularly in regard to patient selection, coercion, and equitable participation. ASTS encourages further investigation into the ethics, logistics, governance, and financial aspects of Global Kidney Exchange.
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This position apparently resulted from some considered deliberation: the email I received announcing this statement said that "ASTS discussed this topic at its recent council meeting (October 12th) and subsequent executive committee call (October 26th)."
Given the well organized initial attempt to characterize GKE as repugnant, I was particularly glad to see that the statement applauds Mike Rees, not just for this work but for the way it has been conducted with
"creativity, integrity, beneficence, and tireless efforts to pioneer Global Kidney Exchange to demonstrate its feasibility. "
As the statement makes clear, however, much work remains.
"creativity, integrity, beneficence, and tireless efforts to pioneer Global Kidney Exchange to demonstrate its feasibility. "
As the statement makes clear, however, much work remains.
I appreciate and admire the author's concern for the issue of GKE, and I feel ASTS's position on this important issue and their support for ' efforts to increase access to transplantation by increasing the organ supply and by removing biologic, logistical, geographical, and financial barriers ' are sensible. As I see it, the EVIL of corruption and the abuse of power is rooted in the capitalist economy ( i.e. market economy ). There happens to exist no area of trade and commerce which is free of this EVIL. Therefore, it's silly to prevent or restrict ' access to [ kidney ] transplantation ' because of the 'potential for abuse [ and corrupt practices ]' and thus make innocent people with damaged kidneys succumb to renal failure.
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