Stanford Study Reveals Flaws in Pediatric Heart Transplant Waitlist

Research indicates the current system fails to prioritize the sickest children, suggesting a need for a more nuanced approach.

Current waitlist categories do not consistently rank the sickest children first.
Mortality rates have decreased due to medical advancements, not allocation policy changes.
The study analyzed data from over 12,000 pediatric patients listed for heart transplants from 1999 to 2023.
Researchers propose a continuous allocation score considering a broader range of health factors.
A new heart allocation system is expected to be proposed by 2025.