The 1978 film Coma is widely cited for having a significant impact on organ donation rates, causing a 60% drop in donations in several cities. The film depicted a conspiracy involving patients being killed for their organs, sparking public fear and concern about the medical system. Beyond the decline in donations, the film also triggered other reactions, including people offering to sell their own organs to hospitals. The Illinois Eye Bank and the Kidney Foundation of Illinois were two organizations that received numerous inquiries about purchasing body parts, inspired by the film’s fictionalized organ trade. Even though author Michael Crichton, whose book was the catalyst for the film, said the danger of making Coma too believable was scaring people away from hospitals and surgeons. Nevertheless, the film went on generate $50 million in box office sales, which is not a bad return on a film that took $4.5 million to make.
