Does the United States do it better? A comparative analysis of liver allocation protocols in the United Kingdom and the United States

Abstract

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for the procurement and allocation of human organs in the United Kingdom. Its main role is to "ensure that organs donated for transplant are matched and allocated to patients in a fair and unbiased way." NHSBT’s liver allocation policies are underpinned by the National Liver Transplant Standards, a document published by the Department of Health in 2005 to oversee patient care, patient assessment, liver allocation and transplantation, education and training, and research and development. NHSBT has developed its own liver allocation protocols under the powers assigned to it by the Department of Health, which include a "super-urgent" liver allocation policy, a Liver Allocation Sequence, and pediatric candidate liver allocation protocols.