There is a great need for human organs for transplantation. In fact, the need far exceeds the supply of transplantable organs. This disparity has promulgated legislation and important case law. These laws attempt to regulate the scare resource (transplantable human organs) and to help establish an equitable national system to allocate the organs where they can do the most good.

There are Extensive federal and state laws regulating organ and tissue donation and transplantation. These many laws and regulations were promulgated to address a variety of issues, including the complicated medical, legal, and moral issues involved in organ donation and transplantation. One of the main issues deals with the enormous demand for human organs in a context where there is an inadequate supply of usable organs. These laws are generally viewed by lawmakers, members of the medical professions, and by the populace as a way to ensure the most equitable distribution of organs. However, the many laws and regulations in this area can complicate the process of obtaining organs. Consequently, people who have questions about organ donation or transplantation, should seek advice of an attorney knowledgeable about this area of law.

There are several reasons for the shortage of organs. Perhaps the most common reason is that people are hesitant to donate organs. There are other reasons as well: for example, physicians may neglect to inquire of family members whether they would consent to donating organs when their loved one dies. In other cases, the deceased’s wishes to donate his or her organs may not be known by those in the position to act on those wishes. Finally, family members may object to the harvesting of organs from their deceased loved one, regardless of the deceased’s intent or wishes to the contrary.