Xenotransplantation could either be a friend or foe of healthcare equity

There are critical shortages in donor organs available for transplantation in the United States, with some racial and ethnic groups facing disparities in access. Xenotransplantation is currently an experimental approach, but has the promise of significantly increasing organ supply. Here, we discuss inequities in access to transplantation and the potential role of xenotransplantation in alleviating these inequities. Chisholm-Burns et al. discuss the substantial shortage of organs available for transplantation, with disparities in access amongst some racial and ethnic groups. The authors suggest that while xenotransplantation can potentially increase organ availability, it also has the potential to further embed inequities in transplant care.