Many who die waiting for a kidney transplant had multiple offers for a donor organ

Kidney transplant candidates who died waiting for a donor organ often had multiple offers, a new study finds. Nearly 10% of candidates died waiting for a kidney between 2008 and 2015, and many of them were offered a donor organ. Overall, some 10 waiting candidates who had at least one donor kidney offered died each day during the seven-year study period. Those who ended up having a kidney transplant had an average of 17 offers, while those who were waiting had 16 offers. More than 90% of offered kidneys were declined by transplant centers on behalf of the patient because of concerns with the organ quality or with the donor’s health background. Fewer than 3% were declined because of patient-related concerns. The study authors write that more transparency in how organs are allocated and assessed may help more people waiting for kidneys to get the organs.