From WCBSTV (Pics added by B.S. Report)
By Kirsten Cole
Organ donation has become a vital way to save lives around the world, but a vast shortage of donors continues to mean people are losing their lives while on waiting lists.
But there is a unique proposal that could change all that.
New York State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky nearly lost his daughter, Willie, at 4 years old when she needed a kidney transplant, and again 10 years later when her second kidney failed.
“We have 10,000 New Yorkers on the list today waiting for organs. We import half the organs we transplant. It is an unacceptable failed system,” Brodsky said. (Read more.)
B.S. Report–There is a more economical solution–let private individuals sell their organs. This would allow them to profit from their own bodies and dramatically increase the size of the organ pool. Further, it would dramatically illustrate the importance of private property rights. Do we or do we not own our own bodies? Obviously, we don’t if we are forbidden from selling our organs.
The test of property ownership: If we truly own something then we should have the legal right to sell it. That would include our organs...
If we’re going to presume people are organ donors unless they opt out, there needs to be a reward for not opting out. Donated organs should be allocated first to those who haven’t opted out. People who opt out of organ donation should go to the back of the transplant waiting list. The United Network for Organ Sharing, which manages the national organ allocation system, has the power to make this simple policy change. No legislative action is required.
Americans who want to donate their organs to other registered organ donors don’t have to wait for UNOS to act. They can join LifeSharers, a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at http://www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.
According to a new survey by Donate Life America 43 percent of people are undecided, reluctant or do not wish to have their organs and tissue donated after their deaths. Is this because Americans don’t know there is an organ shortage? No. The survey also reports that 78 percent realize there are more people who need organ transplants in the U.S. than the number of donated organs available.
Just about every single one of the 43% of Americans who aren’t willing to register as organ donors would accept an organ transplant if they needed one to live. As long as we let non-donors jump to the front of the waiting list when they need transplants we’ll always have an organ shortage.
David J. Undis
Executive Director
LifeSharers
dju316,
I believe that as free individuals we own our bodies and therefore should have the right to sell our organs if we wish.
Dear. B.S. Report:
I agree with you. So does John Stossel, who said this about LifeSharers: “There ought to be a free market in organs, but since that’s illegal, LifeSharers may be the next best thing. It’s criminal that dozens die every day waiting for organs.”
As the death toll from the organ shortage mounts, public opinion will eventually support paying for human organs. Changes in public policy will then follow.
In the mean time, LifeSharers offers an already-legal way to put a big dent in the organ shortage.
If you want to donate your organs to other registered organ donors, please join LifeSharers.
dju316,
I couldn’t tell by your original post whether you were for or against the sale of organs. But as long as organ selling remains illegal, I agree with your position. All the best to you.