The Importance of Donate Life Living Donor Day

The fact is there are more people who need livers than there are livers available.

That is why it is important to expand the donor pool to include more individuals that could potentially donate organs.

This importance is highlighted on April 6 during Donate Life Living Donor Day, a medical holiday aimed at promoting live donors.

In an interview with HCPLive®, Kymberly Watts, MD and Timucin Taner, MD, of the Liver Transplant Program of the Mayo Clinic spoke on the importance of having more potential donors for liver transplants.

And there are always challenges for qualifying to be an organ donor. But for most healthy individuals it can be an option.

But the most important challenge and the biggest impediment is advocacy. While advocacy campaigns can be effective, there are still not enough people who realize this could be an option.

And part of it is educating providers as well with media campaigns.

“It’s just getting the word out,” Watts said. “Word of mouth is probably the best possible way. I think just spreading the word and letting people know that living donations for livers does exist.”