Meaningful rewards for living donations could provide the answer to the kidney shortage.

Altruism is simply not enough to satisfy the global organ shortage that has spawned illegal and unregulated organ markets, so government-sponsored compensation of healthy of individuals who are willing to give one of their kidneys is the best short-term solution.

Governments must provide in-kind incentives in order to spur organ donations, as altruism cannot be the sole legitimate motive for donating, and to achieve the true end of saving more lives.

Congress must permit donors to accept third-party benefits for saving the life of a stranger, otherwise desperate patients and donors will continue to be reluctant co-conspirators in crime.

China is proposing forward-thinking transplant policies that offer to pay organ donors. These proposals challenge the status quo, however if China is serious about creating an incentive program, transparency and accountability will be vital to its integrity and safety.

We should offer well-informed individuals a reward if they are willing to save a stranger's life.

Israel should be commended for its two-pronged approach to its organ problem: incentives and efforts to combat trafficking.

It is time for a state to challenge the 1984 National Organ Transplant Act and offer funeral benefits or some other reward to the estate of those who will give their organs at death.