The first live-donor kidney transplant occurred 52 years ago. Back then, and as recently as a decade ago, the biggest challenge was making the transplants actually work. Today, thanks to medical advances, most transplants are successful. But people continue to die every day because of organ shortages. It’s estimated that by the year 2010 100,000 people will be on waiting lists. A recent survey indicates that as many as 40% of potential kidney donors decide not to donate because of “financial concerns”. In this month’s issue of the American Journal of Transplantation, a group of medical, legal, economics and ethics specialists propose a system that they say could help solve the shortage problem. Doctor Robert S. Gaston, director of medical evaluation and patient treatment for UAB’s kidney transplant program, spoke with WBHM’s Tanya Ott.