Transplant in the Context of Migration - Ethical and Practical Challenges

In this episode, Dr. Sixto Giusti joins us for an important conversation about the critical yet controversial topic of transplantation in the context of migration, with a particular focus on undocumented immigrants in the United States. Sixto Giusti, MD, FASN is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension and Director of the Hispanic Transplant Clinic.

The number of forcibly displaced people has been rising for the past two decades, reaching 117.3 million by the end of 2023. People flee their home countries due to war, violence, persecution, human rights violations, and public unrest, and mass migration presents significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Among these challenges, the impact of end-stage organ disease in migrant populations is profound, raising complex medical, ethical, and policy questions.

Dr. Giusti challenges several common myths surrounding transplantation in non-citizen U.S. residents, including:
🔹 "They don’t contribute to the system, so why should they get access to organs?"
🔹 "Allowing non-citizens into the transplant system will reduce access for U.S. citizens."
🔹 "Non-citizens will have poor transplant outcomes due to inadequate post-transplant care."
🔹 "Migrants are crossing the border just to seek transplants or treatment."

Drawing from global experiences in managing transplantation for refugees, Dr. Giusti explores how different countries approach organ allocation and provides insights into how Colorado is addressing healthcare access for non-U.S. citizens with end-stage organ disease.

Join us as we navigate the intersection of ethics, policy, and medicine, examining what is fair, what is financially responsible, and what the future holds for transplantation in migrant populations.

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