Rationing Organs

By Filed under Science and Other News on December 17, 2008 with 3 comments

This is from a Wall Street Journal editorial:

There are more than 100,000 Americans waiting for an organ transplant. If recent history is any guide, more than 6,000 of them will die waiting this year.

Donors and patients [are subject to] criminal penalties of up to five years in prison and a $50,000 fine if "valuable consideration" was provided to a donor.

While the chilling effect of the federal ban has remained since 1994, the national transplant waiting list has more than quadrupled.

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Comments (3)

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  1. Bruce says:
    December 17, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    Think about that. Americans are dying for lack of organs. The government imposes stiff fines on anyone who tries to buy an organ. But Japanese gangsters get their organs by making payments that are labeled “charitable donations.”

    Go figure.

  2. Bart says:
    December 17, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    Anyone here ever heard of these guys?
    http://www.lifesharers.com/

  3. Bart says:
    December 18, 2008 at 11:10 am

    Sorry, I should have included some description. From the above link:

    LifeSharers members promise to donate upon their death, and they give fellow members first access to their organs. […] By offering your organs first to other organ donors you create an incentive for non-donors to become donors.

    It wasn’t clear whether first access goes only to other members, or to registered organ donors in general. I would feel better if it were the latter.