Exploring the State of the Science of Solid Organ Transplantation and Disability: Proceedings of a Workshop

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division. Solid organ transplantation is a lifesaving procedure for many patients with end-stage organ failure. While cutting-edge research, best practices, and evidence-based treatments can contribute a large amount of knowledge to the field, many workshop speakers reminded the audience that patients are at the center of the discourse about posttransplantation recovery and functioning. This chapter summarizes presentations and discussions from the first and third workshop sessions. Speakers in the first session provided an overview of the U.S. transplantation system, including how organs are donated and allocated, the availability of organs, outcome data, and disparities in recovery and survival rates. Patients, a caregiver, and a social worker in the third session conveyed what it is like to live with an organ transplant.