Renowned actor Jesse Eisenberg has joined the ranks of altruistic donors by announcing his intent to give a kidney to a stranger. The decision, which he described as ‘essentially risk-free,’ comes during a recent appearance on the ‘Today’ show, where he emphasized the importance of such gestures in addressing the organ donation crisis in the U.S.
During the interview, Eisenberg explained that his interest in altruistic donation was inspired by his prior experience with blood donation. While he did not have a specific reason motivating the decision, he expressed a genuine desire to help others. ‘I got bitten by the blood donation bug. I’m doing an altruistic donation mid-December. I’m so excited to do it,’ he said.
Eisenberg also discussed the broader implications of his choice, noting that altruistic donations are crucial in overcoming the current shortage of available organs. The Mayo Clinic explains that altruistic donation occurs when a person donates a kidney to someone they do not know, often referred to as a non-directed donation. According to the National Kidney Registry, such donations can help connect donors with recipients who may not otherwise find a match.
The process of donating a kidney, as Eisenberg explained, involves a matching system where donors are placed in a registry, and their kidneys can be allocated to those in need. He pointed out that this system is particularly important when family members are not able to donate. ‘Let’s say person X needs a kidney in Kansas City, and their child or whoever was going to donate to them is, for whatever set of reasons, not a match, but somehow I am,’ Eisenberg said.
Additionally, Eisenberg mentioned the National Kidney Registry’s family voucher program, which allows up to five family members of a donor to receive vouchers that can prioritize them on the transplant list if they ever need an organ. The program ensures that the donor’s family remains in a position of advantage should they require a transplant in the future.
‘After one voucher is redeemed, the remaining four cannot be used,’ he noted. ‘The way it works now is you can put a list of whoever you would like to be the first to be at the top of the list,’ Eisenberg added. ‘So it’s risk-free for my family, as well.’