KJZZ 91.5

The Ethics of Who Gets a Liver Transplant as the Waitlist Grows

‌‌There were more than 10,000 patients on the wait list in the United States for a new liver in January. That's the second-longest wait list for a new organ, behind those in need of a new kidney. The federal agency that tracks these numbers also reports there were more than 9,500 liver transplants performed last year. David Beyda, MD, chair of the Department of Bioethics and Medical Humanism at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, discusses the process of choosing recipients.

About the College

Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to optimize health and health care in Arizona and beyond. By cultivating collaborative research locally and globally, the college accelerates discovery in a number of critical areas — including cancer, stroke, traumatic brain injury and cardiovascular disease. Championed as a student-centric campus, the college has graduated more than 800 physicians, all of whom received exceptional training from nine clinical partners and more than 2,700 diverse faculty members. As the anchor to the Phoenix Bioscience Core, which is projected to have an economic impact of $3.1 billion by 2025, the college prides itself on engaging with the community, fostering education, inclusion, access and advocacy.