According to the story in the paper about the quilt which recognizes organ donors who gave life to others, only 52 percent of the people in Ohio say yes when asked if they're willing to be an organ donor. I bet almost 100 percent would say yes if you asked them if they're willing to accept an organ transplant.
About 50 percent of the organs transplanted in America go to people who haven't agreed to donate their own organs when they die. As long as we let non-donors jump to the front of the waiting list if they need a transplant we'll always have an organ shortage.
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 http://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. LifeSharers has 9,853 members, including 299 members in Ohio.
This article was originally published in the Zanesville Times Recorder.
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