COFS Participates in Libyan Initiative to Advance Deceased Donation May 2007

In an effort to enhance national self-sufficiency in organ supplies and curb patients from resorting to transplant tourism, Libyan transplant officials commenced a national initiative to establish organ donation from the deceased.  This effort followed the passing of a national law to permit deceased donation in Libya in March 2007.   Dr. Ehtuish Farag Ehtuish, the Director of the Libyan National Transplantation program, organized a conference with transplant doctors in Libya to advance this initiative.  International guests included Dr. Francis Delmonico, Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and Medical Director of the International Transplantation Society, and Dr. Debra Budiani, COFS’ Executive Director and specialist on transplants in the Middle East. 

Dr. Delmonico spoke of various elements of a deceased donation program including procurement from non-heart beating and brain dead donors and principles of organ allocation for waiting lists of patients.  Dr. Budiani discussed concepts of death and deceased donation in the region.  In an aim to promote deceased donation as a public health principle and shift the burden of organ donation from the living to deceased donors, Dr. Budiani worked with a Libyan research team to design a study on social concepts and willingness of deceased donation in Libya.  

Video clip on Libyan National Televised News, Sunday May 27, 2007