Support For The End Kidney Deaths Act in JAMA

From Al Roth’s Market Design Blog:

In March, JAMA publishing a rather unconvincing but passionate attack on a modest proposal to incentivize non-directed kidney donors. The editors presumably received many letters in reply (and declined to publish mine*), but have now published one (to which I was alerted by Frank McCormick).

The End Kidney Deaths Act

Elaine Perlman, MA¹; Frederike Ambagtsheer, PhD²; Arthur Matas, MD³

 JAMA

Published Online: July 21, 2025

doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.8240

  Related Articles (original author's reply at this link)

To the Editor The End Kidney Deaths Act (HR 2687) is a data-informed, ethically grounded proposal developed by nondirected kidney donors (individuals who donate kidneys to strangers) to address the persistent shortage of transplantable kidneys. Backed by 38 organizations,¹ the End Kidney Deaths Act will provide a $10 000 annual tax credit for 5 years (totaling $50 000) to individuals who donate a kidney to a stranger. The End Kidney Deaths Act has the potential to increase living kidney donation, save lives, and reduce taxpayer costs.

Read the full letter here.