Nearly 80,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney from a deceased donor. Every day, about 12 people die while waiting. Finding a living kidney donor offers some people the chance to get a kidney transplant without having to wait five years or more on the list.

Beginning in September 30, 2009, The Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis, Minnesota ran a four part series on living kidney donation. The stories profile people who are searching for a donor, as well as some success stories.

Part 4 of the series features a discussion of the ethics of kidney donation with two points of view. The first is offered by Dr. Arthur Matas, a kidney transplant surgeon at the University of Minnesota. The second viewpoint is given by Jeffrey Kahn, director of  the Center for Bioethics at the University.

Click on one of the links below to read the aticles and watch related video stories:

Survival of the Savviest

Balancing Life and Death

A Revolution: Trading Donors

The Ethics of Kidney Donation