This episode aired on April 3, 2011 and is now available as a free download on our iTunes page!
Join the Radio Rounds crew as they discuss many aspects of the organ shortage here in the U.S. and worldwide.
Featured Guests:
- Dr. William K. Rundell, Director of Transplant Surgery at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio and Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Wright State Univ. Boonshoft School of Medicine
- Dr. John Donnelly, Asst. Professor of Family Medicine at the Wright State Univ. Boonshoft School of Medicine… and a pancreas transplant recipient
- Dr. Alex Tabarrok, Professor of Economics at George Mason University and co-author of the economics blog Marginal Revolution.
Dr. Rundell engages the hosts as he discusses the increasing need for organ donations and the lack of donors to provide for those needs. Dr. Rundell is hopeful that education about this growing shortage will inspire “altruism” in our society and begin to bridge the gap between need and supply.
Dr. Donnelly received a pancreas transplant in 2004. As both a recipient and a healthcare provider, Dr. Donnelly was able to provide insight from two perspectives. Many aspects of organ transplant are now a part of his daily life, and he can attest to the incredible impact that it has had on his life — not only physically, but emotionally as well. In addition, his experience as a physician gives him an even greater appreciation for the gift of life that was given to him and empathy for those who have yet to receive that gift.
Dr. Tabarrok shares his economical perspective on the organ shortage. He claims that incentives play a major role in any supply and demand market and in a situation where incentives are deemed “unethical” economists are intrigued. Dr. Tabarrok discusses many aspects of the organ shortage, including the Black Market and his proposed ideas for solving the shortage.
Again, remember that, as always, the free-to-download podcast of this episode (and all past episodes) can be found on our iTunes page!