Organ Donation: Opt-in vs. Opt-out?

This article describes the debate that's brewing in the UK related to organ donation. Currently, organ donation is an opt-in system and there is not enough supply to satisfy the demand. So people are dying while organs that could have saved them are destroyed.

The best solution I ever heard to this problem was as follows:

If an organ becomes available and more than one person can benefit from it, priority is given to the people that volunteered to donate their own organs.

This scheme provides a tangible benefit for volunteering to donate your organ if you die, and also seems quite fair.

Comments

[Dave Undis]

There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.

Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.

Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is 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 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.

[Graham Glass]

Hi Dave,

I agree with your recommendation; indeed, that's basically what I said in my post wasn't it?

Anyhow, thanks also for the URL; it's very useful!

Cheers,
Graham

[Mitch]

You might be interested in the novel "Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro. I thought it was fantastic. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4629918