African Americans as a whole donate their organs a lot less often than people of many other races.

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For many people it’s a simple choice… one that makes perfect sense.

But for many others, the idea of donating their organs, even when they’ve passed on, seems downright foolish and some believe it might even put their very lives in jeopardy.

Dr. Tamorie Smith is a neprhologist, treating patients with kidney disease… she says African Americans as a whole donate their organs a lot less often than people of many other races.

She says mistrust of the health care system and fear of the unknown are the major reasons. She goes on to say that some even worry they would be denied life saving treatment and allowed to die, so that their organs might go to someone waiting on a list.

With diseases like hypertension, diabetes and obesity so prevalent among African Americans and on the rise there has been an explosion in recent years of chronic kidney disease.   It impacts one in six adults… and a half a million Americans require dialysis or a kidney transplant.  More than 75,000 people are waiting for kidney transplants…. 30% of those people are African American.

All the more reason, says Dr. Smith why blacks should sign up to be donors.. and tell their family about their wishes..