Arthur L. Caplan is an American ethicist who is a professor emeritus of bioethics at New York University Grossman School of Medicine. He is known for his contributions to US public policy, including helping to found the National Marrow Donor Program; creating required requests in cadaver organ donation adopted throughout the United States; helping to create the system for distributing organs in the US; and advising on the content of the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984, rules governing living organ donation, and legislation and regulation in areas of health care including blood safety and compassionate use.