Work

Funeral expense reimbursement as a strategy to enhance organ donation and transplantation access

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We propose amending the National Organ Transplant Act to permit reimbursement of funeral expenses for deceased organ donors, analogous to current practices for whole-body donors. This ethically consistent policy could increase organ donation rates by 9-35%, saving 105,000-419,000 life-years and generating $200-800 million annually in Medicare savings-without commodifying human organs, compromising altruism, or undermining established ethical standards governing organ donation.

Source: npj Health Systems

DOI: 10.1038/s44401-025-00046-z

Authors: Alex Chan, Kurt Sweat

Institutions: Harvard University, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Organ Donation and Transplantation

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,790