Organ transplantation has long stood as a beacon of hope in American medicine, offering second chances to thousands each year. But a troubling trend is threatening the very foundation of this life-saving system: a recent growing reluctance among Americans to stay registered as organ donors.

According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), there are over 106,000 people awaiting life-saving transplants. However, only about 30,000 transplants were reported in the first half of 2025. Having the donor registry numbers decrease only exacerbates the critical organ shortage which already results in the death of 13 people on the transplant waiting list every day. This disparity underscores the urgent need to protect and strengthen the organ donation system.

The organ pro

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