A recent study by The Markup and The Washington Post found that Native Americans have a much harder time getting on the national liver transplant waiting list compared to other racial groups, even though they have the highest rate of dying from liver disease.
The study looked at transplant data from 2018 to 2021 and found that for every 100 White people who die from liver disease, 26 get a spot on the transplant list. However, for every 100 Native Americans who die from liver disease, only 9 get on the list. If the rates were equal, about 1,000 more Native Americans would have received liver transplants during those four years.
Once Native Americans are on the waiting list, they have a similar chance of getting a transplant as White patients. This means that the main problem is getting access to the list in the first place. Dr. Jewel Mullen, a doctor who works to make health care more fair at the University of Texas at Austin’s medical school, said that this unevenness in access and results is a problem for everyone.
The study shows the unfair difficulties Native Americans face in getting life-saving liver transplants and highlights the need for changes to make sure all racial and ethnic groups have a fair chance at getting a transplant when they need one.
See “A Death Sentence: Native Americans Shut Out of the Nation’s Liver Transplant System” by Annie Gilbertson and Ben Tanen on The Markup website (February 8, 2024)
