Ikemoto Comments on Transplant Controversy

Lisa Ikemoto, a professor of law who teaches bioethics at UC Davis School of Law, was quoted in a story on KCRA 3 "Health Watch" about the ethical debate over how best to distribute available organs for life-saving transplants.

The current system says those who need a life-saving transplant the most, should get an organ first. On the other side of an emerging debate are those who say organs should first go to those who are willing to give their own.

Lifesharers is an online community of organ donors who would like to see organs offered to any fellow members first—before making them available to strangers.

California law does allow people to designate who should receive their organs. That's not a problem, said Professor Lisa Ikemoto.  Her concern is that Lifesharer's membership of 10,000 is just too small.  "It might be misleading to people who have hopes of increasing their chances of becoming a recipient through Lifesharers," Ikemoto said. "The chance of obtaining an organ from another Lifesharers membership is very small, not realistic."

KCRA 3 "Health Watch"/November 12, 2007