WASHINGTON (AP) – For the first time in over a decade, organ donations from the recently deceased have declined, leading to a decrease in kidney transplants. This alarming trend is attributed to signs of public mistrust in the organ donation system, as detailed in an analysis published on Wednesday.
Currently, more than 100,000 individuals in the United States are awaiting organ transplants, with the majority of these patients requiring kidneys. Unfortunately, thousands of these individuals succumb each year while on the waiting list.
The nonprofit organization, Kidney Transplant Collaborative, conducted an analysis of federal data and reported a decrease of 116 kidney transplants performed in the previous year compared to 2024. Although the difference may appear minimal, it serves as a warning signal, particularly as the analysis identified a correlation with concerning reports of patients being prepared for organ retrieval despite still showing signs of life.
In response to these troubling reports, authorities halted the planned organ retrievals and are currently developing additional safeguards to protect the transplant system, which is crucial in saving tens of thousands of lives annually. However, these incidents have shaken public confidence, resulting in some individuals opting to withdraw their names from donor registries.
Dr. Andrew Howard, who heads the Kidney Transplant Collaborative, mentioned that the decrease in kidney transplants would have been even more significant if not for a slight increase of approximately 100 transplants from living donors. Living donations occur when a healthy individual donates one of their kidneys to someone in need. The collaborative advocates for the promotion of these living donations, which still represent only a small part of the roughly 28,000 kidney transplants conducted each year.
Aside from the exceptional case in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted healthcare systems, organ transplants have generally increased year-on-year. Fortunately, last year's decline in deceased donors did not lead to a dip in overall transplants; over 49,000 transplants were performed compared to 48,150 in 2024. Moreover, transplants involving hearts, livers, and lungs have continued to increase, according to federal statistics. Dr. Howard suggested that these ongoing gains are likely due to variations in how different organs are evaluated and allocated for transplantation.
The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, while not involved in this specific analysis, expressed profound concern regarding the findings. They called for collaboration among their members, hospitals, and federal regulators to unite in efforts to restore public trust and enhance the integrity of this vital system.
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