Health disparities are starkly evident in the American organ transplant system, where favoritism and inequity have led to alarming outcomes for minority patients. A New York Times investigation reveals that the sickest patients, who should receive priority for lifesaving transplants, frequently find themselves overlooked. Last year, nearly 20 percent of organ transplants involved patients being skipped from waiting lists, often in favor of less critically ill individuals.
This concerning pattern has led to deaths of individuals who, just prior to being bypassed, were close to receiving organ transplants. The investigation found that over the past five years, more than 1,200 people died after being skipped on waiting lists. Significant numbers of these instances disproportionately affected white and Asian patients, while Black candidates often face longer wait times and have worse outcomes.
Stakeholders within the transplant system acknowledge that they sometimes deviate from established protocols to place organs more quickly, prioritizing expediency over fairness. As urgency drives decisions, the principle of fairness becomes increasingly warped, resulting in a mockery of the allocation system, as articulated by medical professionals. The consequences of these practices exacerbate disparities within healthcare, leaving minority communities vulnerable and eroding trust in a system that is meant to serve all equally.
See: “Organ Transplant System ‘in Chaos’ as Waiting Lists Are Ignored” (February 26, 2025)
