Pediatric surgeon on new liver distribution policy
Pediatric transplant surgeon George V. Mazariegos, M.D., has dedicated his career to saving the lives of critically ill children through the gift of organ transplantation. In an op-ed published in The Hill in August 2019, Mazariegos implored lawmakers to consider the lives of young people who would benefit from the new liver distribution policy that was passed by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Board of Directors in December 2018.
The new allocation policy recently went into effect on Feb. 4, 2020. Mazariegos, who serves as chair of the OPTN’s Pediatric Transplantation Committee, says children will start benefiting right away, because all deceased donor pediatric livers will be offered to children first before being offered to less critically ill adults. “This is a life-saving game-changer for children waiting for a liver transplant.”
Read Mazariegos’ Aug. 8, 2019 op-ed.
Learn how the new allocation system is more equitable and saves more lives.
