Final answer:
Steve Jobs' case emphasized the importance of fairness in organ allocation, governed by compatibility criteria like blood type and MHC proteins. The organ shortage and solutions like bioprinting and gene editing in donor animals aim to increase available organs for transplant.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steve Jobs' case highlighted the importance of fairness and medical ethics in organ allocation systems. The allocation of organs for transplant operations raises complex ethical questions due to the organ shortage crisis.
Patients are admitted to a waiting list and have to wait for an organ that matches their blood type and tissue compatibility, which is determined by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) glycoproteins.
The health of the patient can degrade while waiting, making the period of time on the waitlist critical. Advancements in technology could potentially address the organ shortage in the future, such as the technique of bioprinting organs discussed by Dr. Anthony Atala at the TED Conference and genetic modification approaches using donor animals.
Additionally, devices like TransMedic's Organ Care System improve the condition of organs en route to the recipient, thus maximizing the chance of successful transplantation.