More organ donations needed among African Americans

Not enough people are signing up to donate an organ, particularly African Americans. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, DHHS, in 2010, 67 percent of all deceased donors were White and 16 percent were Black. These are numbers that do not meet the urgent need for organs.

African Americans have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure as compared to White Americans – conditions that are known to put them at higher risk for organ failures. In Michigan, the organ of greatest need for African Americans are kidneys, followed by the liver and heart.

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