In a controversial decision, Israel is set to become the first country to give priority to patients for organ transplants for non-medical criteria. In response to the shortage of organ donations in the country, one of the lowest in the developed world, Israel’s parliament passed a law that gives priority to patients who signed an organ donor card and their immediate families. Donors would therefore move up in line for an organ if they or their family members had previously donated an organ.
There is a fine-line between moral grounds and the betterment of society. UNOS, for example, believes that there should be no “valuable consideration” concerning organ donation, usually interpreted as payment. But why shouldn’t there be? Currently donors receive no compensation for medical costs, loss of income, accommodation, or child care. Sort of a consolation prize, Pennsylvania is the only state that has approved a law to pay for funeral expenses of people when organ donation occurred after death. UNOS says that the important factor is “giving” but if we are so concerned with our generosity than why do thousands die yearly from organ failure?
Money does not need to be the way to fix organ donation however. In fact, I would venture to say we shouldn’t use payment as an incentive. I believe that monetary compensation could take advantage of the poor. There is no way to check someone’s motives and people will do almost anything for money. Even an opt-out clause, where people are automatically signed up as donors, can go against their wishes. Although I agree with the theory of an opt-out clause, people deserve the freedom of choice to make such a life-altering decision.
Alexander Tabarrok argues, in his new book Entrepreneurial Economics, that a “no-give, no take” policy (the Israeli policy is a lenient version of this) would dramatically increase organ donation. It would dually increase supply while still allowing those who donate solely out of goodwill to do so without being deterred by compensation. And those that refused to donate, due to fear or religious objections, would still be eligible for surplus organs. I am not convinced that this is the correct approach. But with only seventy percent of Americans signing a donor card and only 45 percent of Israelis, something needs to be done. If the Israeli system works then, and I’m hoping it does, perhaps the rest of the world might see that the best kind of gift is the one that keeps on giving.
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In the United States, registered organ donors can get priority access to donated organs by joining an organ donor network named LifeSharers.
If you agree to offer your organs first to other LifeSharers members, you'll get preferred access to the organs of every other member of the network. As the LifeSharers network expands, your chances of getting an organ if you ever need one keep going up -- if you are a member. LifeSharers already has over 13,000 members.
Giving organs first to organ donors creates an incentive for non-donors to become donors. This increases the supply of organs and saves more lives. Saving the maximum number of lives should be the primary goal of our organ donation/transplantation system.
Giving organs first to organ donors also makes the system fairer. People who aren't willing to donate their own organs should go to the back of the transplant waiting list as long as there is an organ shortage.
If you want to donate your organs to other organ donors, you can join LifeSharers at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. Membership is free. There is no age limit. No one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.
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