On the List: Fixing America's Failing Organ Transplant System [Hardcover]

Steve Farber (Author), Harlan Abrahams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 18, 2009

Two families came together in the waiting room of a Denver hospital on May 11, 2004, to await kidney transplants for loved ones. In the first operation, Gregg Farber, 32, a real estate executive, donated a kidney to his father, Steve, a 60-year-old Denver lawyer and power broker. In the second, Guatemalan refugee and landscaper Ernesto Delaroca, also 32, donated a kidney to his sister Sandra, 19, a restaurant worker. The stories of how the Farber and Delaroca families made their separate journeys to the operating room offers insight into the hazards and inequities of a cobbled-together system that each year leaves more than 98,000 gravely ill Americans on the waiting list for a life-saving transplant. Steve Farber’s experience inspired him to write On the List with Harlan Abrahams. They examine the ethical, legal, political, and economic debates over organ transplant policies, expose the gray market for transplants in Third World countries, and propose solutions to one of the world’s most pressing health issues. An informative and inspiring guide to those who face transplant operations, the book is also a call to reform a system that is truly, and fatally, flawed.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

STEVE FARBER is a founding partner of Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber & Schreck, a law firm with offices nationwide, where he has represented the Denver Broncos and Denver Nuggets. He has served as commissioner of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, co-chair of the Host Committee for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and member of the board of directors for the University of Colorado Hospital Foundation. He also founded the American Transplant Foundation, which seeks to eliminate the shortage of human transplant organs in the United States. He lives in Denver, Colorado.

HARLAN ABRAHAMS is a lawyer, writer, and educator. Formerly a tenured professor of constitutional and administrative law, he is a frequent lecturer on public policy. He lives in Denver, Colorado.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (August 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1605298409
• ISBN-13: 978-1605298405
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #671,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear thinking on an important medical issue facing millions., November 8, 2009

By 

D. Satorius (Milwaukee, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the List: Fixing America's Failing Organ Transplant System (Hardcover)

ON THE LIST is what all investigative journalism should be: great story telling that allows us to understand complex and difficult issues. In the case of ON THE LIST, Abrahams weaves a great non-fiction story to illuminate an ethically, socially and scientifically complex topic in a personal and very human way. Not just a book for those directly involved in transplant operations. A must read for those interested in health care system issues, medical ethics and a compelling tale on an important and timely topic. On the List: Fixing America's Failing Organ Transplant System

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In Praise of On The List, October 8, 2009

By 

Courtney Ranson "Courtney" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On the List: Fixing America's Failing Organ Transplant System (Hardcover)

On The List is a captivating account of how two people from such different backgrounds are able to find common ground surrounding unfortunate circumstances. Aside from the intriguing story, what I found most interesting and kept my attention throughout the book is the author's interweaving of policy, the pitfalls of our donor registry alongside two true life situations. Ultimately, the story combined with the policy aspect of the books makes it an easy and educational read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars well written, excellent story, August 18, 2009

By 

Sidney J. Rosenblatt - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: On the List: Fixing America's Failing Organ Transplant System (Hardcover)

Harlan Abrahams does a great job of writing a book about a very current subject. His research is meticulous and well documented. The story about Ernesto is very interesting and poignant. Hope to read more books by Abrahams.