We are disappointed that the U.S. Attorney General did not seek Supreme Court review of the Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling that certain forms of marrow donation can be compensated. The National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) contends that congressional intent of National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 (NOTA) was clear, and marrow donors should not be compensated under any circumstances.
Paying marrow donors creates a multitude of problems and will not help more patients receive transplants. Compensation will limit treatment options for patients, decrease the quality of donations and divert much-needed money from areas where it can help a wider range of patients.
Further, our federal contract through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HRSA) requires that we operate an all-volunteer registry, and does not allow us to work with donors who are promised compensation.
For these and other reasons, we do not intend to change our policy against donor compensation for either traditional marrow or peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donations.