For centuries, the medical community has known that human cadavers and human 
organs are invaluable to medical science for transplantations. On December 3, 
1967, in Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. Christian Barnard revolutionized organ 
transplantation with the first successful human heart transplant. With it came 
the dawning of a new era--life for one preserved through the death of another. 
But with this advancement came great demands. Patients waited, hoping sometimes 
in vain, that a kidney transplant would end their long hours of suffering on 
dialysis, or that a heart transplant would prolong their otherwise shortened 
existence. Expectations grew, but the supply of organs did not. It became clear 
that the full and continued benefit of such medical advances depended on an 
increased supply of human organs for transplantation. This article focuses on 
the issues surrounding the procurement of human organs for transplantation. A 
brief history of transplantation and the benefits of transplantation are 
presented, as well as the present means of supplying organs for transplantation 
and how this supply could be enhanced by alternate procurement methods.