Computer matches kidney donors
Computer scientists from Glasgow University are playing a key role in the NHS’s living-donor kidney-transplant programme, which saw the first multiple kidney transplants involving three couples take place at the end of last year.
They have devised a computer program that matches donors to patients whose original willing donor is clinically incompatible, enabling organs to be swapped anonymously between people on the same day in different parts of the UK.
One of the first three-way donations to be carried out took place in December 2009 at three different hospitals across the UK, involving six people. All are now in good health following surgery.
The ability to carry out live donations between people who are not genetically or emotionally related only became possible following the introduction of the Human Tissue Act 2004 and the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 20062.
Before then patients could only receive organs that had been removed from donors who had died, or via a live donation from a compatible family member or friend. If no suitable organ was found in this instance, the patient would have to continue with kidney dialysis while they waited for a donated organ.
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