Dr. Shaw Discusses the Need for More Kidney Donors on KXAN

October 23, 2014

There’s a growing need for kidney donors in the United States. The number of people in need of a transplant has doubled in the past 12 years, and some of them have been waiting over five years for a new kidney.

 

As the demand as increased, the number of living donors has actually fallen, which means more than 4,000 people die each year while waiting for a donor kidney.

 

About half of all kidney donations come from living donors, and recent advances in laparoscopic surgery mean that it’s even easier for living donors to help save a life.

 

Dr. Shaw recently appeared on KXAN News to discuss the kidney donor shortage and share how easy it is to be a hero to a person in need.