Organ transplantation: who decides?

The author surveys the organ transplantation procurement program and identifies problems that the successes in this new field are creating. A major problem--the growing gap between the demand for and supply of transplantable human organs--is examined, and the need for ensuring equity of access to limited numbers of organs is discussed. In addition, the various approaches to solving the problem of inequity are reviewed, and the contributions that social workers can make to decision-making processes are discussed. Social work roles at the societal, institutional, and individual case levels are proposed, and suggestions for effective role performance are noted.