When I learned that my son Joshua needed a kidney transplant I was distraught – without the organ my baby would die. But as I cared for Joshua and his failing kidneys, I learned that the organ procurement system is failing people across the country waiting on life-saving organs just like my son.

According to new research from the University of Pennsylvania, we could double the number of people receiving the organs they need, if only Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) were better at their jobs.

No one should have to go through the agony of waiting for an organ because of an outdated system. Join me in demanding more oversight over OPOs.  

OPOs operate with almost no oversight, hiding behind self-reported data which even they say is “unaudited and unverified.” OPOs are criticized for showing up late, or mismanaging delicate conversations with donor families in their darkest moments.

Tens of thousands of lives are on the line. This system can and must be fixed.

Right now, 115,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ and the same number of families are sitting in agony, watching their loved ones get sicker and sicker, unsure whether they will make it to their next birthday. We could cut that number in half, but the dysfunctional and opaque system of OPOs is stopping us.

Join me in demanding that the Federal government hold OPOs accountable by creating a clear standard to measure their performance.