Many Americans may not be aware that the nation's "transplant system," such as it is, is largely influenced by a private contractor to the federal government. The agency is called UNOS, the United Network for Organ Sharing.
Back in my reporting career - almost 20 years ago - I pointed out questions about UNOS and its managment of transplant issues.
Now the Los Angeles Times reports that UNOS is "lax in oversight" and "routinely fails to detect problems." The Times asserts that:
• UNOS has never recommended that the government close an active transplant program.
• Even after programs log high death rates, years sometimes pass before UNOS takes meaningful action.
• UNOS often backs down after being challenged — or even defied — by medical centers it is supposed to regulate.
• UNOS officials have missed obvious red flags, including troubling transplant center statistics available on its own website.
Read the entire article. More Americans should know more about UNOS and ask more questions.
Posted by schwitz at October 25, 2006 08:58 AM | TrackBack