The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease is a numerical scale scoring severity of liver damage in liver transplant candidates. The numbers range from 6 to 40, 40 being gravely ill. According to a 2008 study in Brazil, the average liver transplant patient had a score between 15 and 20. Patients with higher MELD scores (greater than 25) had a higher mortality rate during and post surgery. This study showed that patients with intermediate (16-25) MELD scores had a risk of dying within three months approximately four times greater than low score (less than or equal to 15) patients. (http://www.researchgate.net/publication/5306494_Model_for_the_end-stage_liver_disease_and_death_prediction_in_a_cohort_of_Brazilian_patients_on_the_waiting_list_for_liver_transplantation)