Marvin Gaye III, son of the late soul singer, announced that he is in need of a kidney transplant. The 46-year-old has been on dialysis for the past three years. He went into kidney failure as a complication of diabetes.Gaye, who is also a singer, that he is sharing his "condition publicly to help draw attention to the challenges blacks and Hispanics face in finding healthy organ donors. He also says he plans to donate some proceeds from his forthcoming album to a kidney research organization."
Did you know?
African Americans are the minority group whose members are most often in need of an organ transplant (see the waitlist graphic below).In 2012:
- 20%of all transplant recipients were African American
- 73% of African American transplant recipients received kidneys
According to the at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, minorities make up more than half of organ donation waiting lists (56%), yet they comprise less than half of organ transplants performed (34%). White patients make up less than half of waiting lists (44%), and comprise 66% of transplants performed.Part of this disparity may be due to the fact that African Americans have higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure than Caucasians, increasing the risk of organ failure. African Americans comprise 13% of the population, 34% of those waiting for a kidney, and 22% of those waiting for a heart.
Other factors include lower access to quality health services and language and cultural barriers.
Lower rates of consent to organ donation in minorities is another important factor. As HLA typing tends to be closest within racial groups, this can make finding a suitable donor a difficult proposition.
Myths and Misconceptions Abound
A number of myths and misconceptions about organ donation may contribute to the reason minorities (as well as other donors) stay away. has published a fact sheet to dispel many of these misconceptions:I'm too old.
Fact: Anyone, regardless of age or medical history, can sign up to be a donor. The transplant team will determine at an individual's time of death whether donation is possible.
My religion won't support it.
Fact: Most major religions in the United States support organ donation and consider donation as the final act of love and generosity toward others.
If I'm in an accident and the hospital knows that I am designated as a donor, the doctors won't try to save my life.
Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to a hospital, the number one priority is to save your life.
Rich and famous people get moved to the top of the waiting list while "regular" people have to wait longer for a transplant.
Fact: When matching donor organs to recipients, the computerized matching system considers issues such as the severity of illness, blood type, time spent waiting, other important medical information, and geographic location. The recipient's financial or celebrity status or race does not figure in.
My family wants to have an open casket funeral.
Fact: An open casket funeral is usually possible for organ, eye, and tissue donors. Through the entire donation process, the body is treated with care, respect, and dignity.
It will cost my family a lot of money.
Fact: There is no cost to donors or their families for organ or tissue donation.
Organs can be bought and sold on the black market.
Fact: Federal law prohibits buying and selling organs in the U.S. Violators are punishable by prison sentences and fines.
If I am a registered donor, doctors may remove my organs before I have passed away.
Fact: People can recover from comas, but not brain death. Coma and brain death are not the same. Brain death is final.