Comments on: Efforts to Increase Minority Organ Donations Show Success http://www.bioethicsinternational.org/blog/2010/06/15/efforts-to-increase-minority-organ-donations-show-success/ Because just enough isn't good enough Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:23:55 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Dave Undis http://www.bioethicsinternational.org/blog/2010/06/15/efforts-to-increase-minority-organ-donations-show-success/comment-page-1/#comment-50256 Dave Undis Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:46:09 +0000 http://www.bioethicsinternational.org/blog/?p=1800#comment-50256 Only 30% of minorities have agreed to donate their organs when they die? Wow! I bet just every single one of the other 70% would accept an organ transplant if they needed one to live. Half of the organs transplanted in America go to people who haven't agreed to donate their own organs. 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. There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- allocate donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs. 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, 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. LifeSharers has over 13,000 members, including members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. David J. Undis Executive Director LifeSharers Only 30% of minorities have agreed to donate their organs when they die? Wow! I bet just every single one of the other 70% would accept an organ transplant if they needed one to live.

Half of the organs transplanted in America go to people who haven’t agreed to donate their own organs. 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.

There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage — allocate donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs. 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, 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. LifeSharers has over 13,000 members, including members in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

David J. Undis
Executive Director
LifeSharers

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