But medical advancements have led to a rise in demand for organs that is outpacing donation rates.
The problem: The wait list for organs in the U.S. has doubled in the last decade, to 94, 000.
Over 110, 000 Americans are on the list for organs, and more than 87, 000 of these patients need kidneys.
There is now competition for organs: Pittsburgh has seen its annual tally of liver transplants fall by over 50% to 240.
The word's English etymology speaks volumes about Anglo-Saxon disdain for organs.
Due in part to traditional beliefs and distrust of the medical system, voluntary donations are rare in China, where the need for organs far exceeds the supply.
The new guidelines set down how doctors should seek permission for a post-mortem examination and consent for organs and tissue to be retained for teaching and research.
Deputy Tadier had previously said the demand for organs "far outstrips" those donated, but if Jersey adopted the opt out system, more organs would become available for transplants.
These iPS cells, like stem cells derived from embryos, can be turned into many different kinds of cells, and researchers believe they eventually could be used to regenerate tissue for organs and repair damage.
Most of those interested in xenotransplantation are considering pigs, rather than baboons or chimpanzees, because pigs are easier and cheaper to rear, and because harvesting pigs for organs is thought to pose fewer ethical difficulties.
Pigs are thought by some scientists to be the most suitable animals for providing organs for transplant into humans.
Earlier this year the British Kidney Patient Association said 70% of British adults were willing for their organs to be donated, but very few actually get around to signing up for a donor card.
They are clones, created for the exclusive purpose of providing organs for real humans.
And even if the approach works for kidneys, it has yet to be tested for other organs.
The idea of a futures market for human organs could gain ground soon.
Three-quarters have involved my specialty, endocrine surgery surgery for endocrine organs such as the thyroid, the parathyroid, and the adrenal glands.
Right now, there are 114, 000 people waiting for donor organs.
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"If the body knows how to do this for the trachea, maybe it knows how to do this for other organs, too, " said David Green, president of Harvard Bioscience Inc.
The government is writing into the legislation itself a requirement for it to carry out a wide-scale publicity campaign to ensure that every member of the public and everyone coming to live in Wales is aware that unless they opt out, they will have deemed their consent for their organs to be donated.
Those involved in the research said it could pave the way for specially created organs, which might eliminate the need for organ donation.
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Printing artificial organs could then make up for the lack of donor organs.
They aim to grow functioning human organs for transplant, including hearts, in 10 years.
The conference is discussing how to balance patient choice with the importance of getting organs for medical treatment.
Your story about Tax Incentives and Organ Donation highlighted the tragic shortage of human organs for transplant operations.
It hopes to create 15 extra donors leaving around 45 more organs for transplant throughout the UK every year.
Neither does eliminating rejection increase the supply of organs for transplant, even though it means that fewer will be wasted.
With proper safeguards, why not go a step further and allow the living to receive financial considerations for donating their organs?
In Wales last year, just 67 people donated organs for transplant, but the transplant waiting list stands at about 300 people.
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