In Taiwan, more than 8,500 individuals remain on the national organ transplant waiting list, the majority of whom require kidney transplantation. However, for patients with hereditary kidney disorders or polycystic kidney disease, biological relatives are often medically unsuitable donors. The current restriction that permits only blood relatives aged 20 or older to serve as living kidney donors creates inequities and limits transplant access. Expanding eligibility to include in-laws and socially bonded individuals could enhance donor diversity, promote equitable access to transplantation, and uphold the constitutional right to health.
Tsai et al. (Wed,) studied this question.