Donor organ transportation has been broken since 9/11. It’s time to fix the system | Opinion

Congress is currently considering ways to further improve the nation’s organ donation and transplant system, and one of the easiest fixes is to update the regulations that govern how vital organs are moved via commercial airlines.

Last year, there were a record 43,000 organ transplants nationally and 188 in Idaho. For many of these procedures, generous donor organs had to travel by air to make it to patients in need. On any given day, multiple Americans awaiting a transplant will get their organs by way of air.

Idaho is particularly dependent on a seamless organ transit system. Many Idahoans travel outside the state to receive transplant care — mostly to Utah, Oregon, or Washington — to receive an organ, probably arriving via air. Organs are matched to a patient based on clinical factors to ensure the sickest patients receive priority, meaning that organs can come from anywhere in the country.

Nearly every part of a donated organ’s trip needs to be perfect. Storms, cancellations, missed connections and damaged or lost containers can upset the entire process with sometimes devastating results.

As a living-organ recipient, I appreciate that there are good ideas on ways to improve the system, but first, a little history.

Before 9/11, organs flying commercial were accompanied by an organ donation expert from the regional organ procurement organization (OPO) straight to the gate. The representative and the donated organ would go through special security screening. The package would be safely stowed in the cabin, and the captain and crew made aware of the priceless cargo under their care. If you’ve ever sent a young child on a flight solo, you’ve seen firsthand the professionalism of the airline crew in making the youngster’s trip as uneventful as possible. The same approach applies here.

Unfortunately, 9/11 upset this well-developed system. Security changes after 9/11 resulted in organs being forced into the cargo hold below the wings with passenger luggage and golf clubs. OPO experts were prevented from bringing the organs through security and answering any questions from the captain and crew.

I do not mean to criticize the airlines or their overworked employees. This decision was foisted upon them by policymakers understandably focused on post-9/11 security concerns, but the result has been detrimental to countless patients and their families, as well as the donors who gave the gift of life. Imagine the frustration caused by organs missing flights or cargo offices closing early, leaving an organ locked behind a closed door.

Thankfully, in its review of the organ program, Congress and the Department of Transportation (DOT) can revisit the issue and consider ideas to balance security and patients.

The nonprofits managing the nation’s transplant and donation system have recently proposed to the Secretary of Transportation and the Transportation Security Administration a suite of ideas allowing organs to once again travel in the passenger cabin and be delivered by a transplant professional. Airlines and airports would be required to coordinate with each other to develop internal policies to ensure the smoothest possible organ journey. Additionally, air traffic control would be required to give priority to flights with organs onboard.

The federal government’s role is essential because, as the letter to Secretary Pete Buttigieg points out, airlines and airports are unable or unwilling to do this on their own. In the interest of our nation’s patients, all responsible parties need to come together to make the fixes that will allow lifesaving organs to travel in the best possible conditions.

Jared Bauer was the recipient of a kidney donation in 2019. He and his family reside in Star, Idaho.