If you want an organ, agree to donate one
Regarding Rosemary Roberts' column, "You, too, can 'give the gift of life' " (April 22):
The generosity of live organ donors is remarkable. But we wouldn't need live organ donors if Americans weren't burying or cremating 20,000 transplantable organs every year.
There is a better solution to the organ shortage: If you don't agree to donate your organs when you die, then you go to the back of the waiting list if you ever need an organ to live.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. About 70 percent of the organs transplanted in the United States go to people who haven't agreed to donate their own organs when they die. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life shouldn't be eligible for transplants 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. They do this through a form of directed donation that is legal in all 50 states and under federal law.
Anyone can join for free at www.lifesharers.com.
David J. Undis
Nashville, Tenn.
The writer is executive director, LifeSharers.
Comments (2)
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I think this is an interesting topic for debate. Personally I want proof that rich people do NOT go to the top of the "waiting" list. Then maybe I can agree to sign zee paapa.
Posted on May 2, 2005 11:33 AM
An excellent candidate for trollbane spray, no? There's a difference between censorship and judicious excision.
Posted on May 2, 2005 11:41 AM