New York Times - Top Stories

Brian M. Rosenthal

For decades, there have been occasional reports of wealthy patients who came to the U.S. from abroad for an organ transplant. I wanted to find out how common that was, and why it was happening.

Brian M. Rosenthal

Over 100,000 people in the U.S. need new organs, and each year thousands die waiting. Despite the shortage, some hospitals court overseas patients who pay more — up to $2 million per transplant.

Brian M. Rosenthal

The U.S., unlike most of the world, allows transplants for international patients. Few hospitals do it. But a handful give as much as 20 percent of certain organ types to patients from abroad.

Brian M. Rosenthal

We analyzed years of data and found that patients who come to the U.S. seeking an organ transplant typically get one faster than patients from America. And they are less likely to die waiting for an organ.

Brian M. Rosenthal

In one case, a Japanese woman came to the U.S. and got a heart transplant within days. Afterward, a charity run by her husband donated money to a nonprofit led by the transplant surgeon’s wife.