Essay on Organ Donation

gan 50 Phelan Ave San Francisco, CA 94112 April 9, 2013 Mr. Bob Smith Health Service Secretary 1145 Market Street San Francisco, CA  94103 Dear Mr. Smith FOR THE ATTENTION OF THE HSS SECRETARY Organ donation is a compassionate way to give back to others, being able to make a huge difference by giving another person a second chance to live. The number of patients waiting for organs far exceeds the number of people who have registered to become organ donors. What’s worse, Patients are forced to wait months, even years for a match, and far too many die before they are provided with a suitable organ.

In fact, in 2011, a total of 597 people died in New York State while waiting for organ transplants. This means that someone died every 15 hours in the state because of the organ donor shortage. As a member of the US Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation, I believe that becoming an organ donor after death is not only an important decision for yourself, but it is also an important decision for the life that you may have the power to save. Organ transplants takes healthy organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another.

It usually occurs for patients with kidney or liver failure, or eventually heart or lung malfunctions. For patients who need a kidney or a liver, a living donor’s organ can be utilized; since we are already born with an extra kidney and the liver naturally regenerate. Moreover, a transplant is usually the last course of action in the treatment of a patient, but if the patient is willing and able, it can be a good option. However, a match is made when both the donor and the receiver have the same blood and tissue type, and other medical factors are considered depending on the specific needs for each case.

Also, how long a patient has been waiting for an organ is a big factor when choosing who will get which organ. In “A Moral Solution to the Organ Shortage” written by Alexander Tabarrok in 2001, the author argues that the “no-give-no-take” rule is the best solution, proposing that only people who agreed to be organ donors can have organ transplants in return. I strongly agree with Tabarrok because as he mentions in his essay “ While it is understandable that some people may have misgivings about becoming donors for personal or religious reasons, why should someone who was not willing to give an organ be allowed to take an organ? (582). Additionally, I must say that I’m quite uncomfortable with the idea of human organs for sale, health and especially organs should not be bought with money. Furthermore, Organ transplantation can only be possible if the donor and the receiver both already agreed by signing their organ donor cards before they discover they’re having health complications, needing a kidney, a lung or a heart transplant. In the United States, 42. 7 percent of individuals’ age 18 and older has registered to be organ, eye and tissue donors.

I suggest that the “no-give-no-take” rule should be considered. It’s easy and fair, all you have to do is apply with you state donor by going to “www. Organdonor. gov” and registering to what state you reside in, as well as entering some basic information such as your name, address, height, gender and of course what specific organs you are willing to donate after you death. Fortunately, You can donate organs at almost any age – anywhere between a newborn to a 65 year old can sign up. Besides, there are countless highly important reasons that you should donate organs.

First of all, the satisfaction of being able to save lives even when you are already gone. Your organs will live on and go on to help someone else, and at the same time your memory will of course live on for the grateful people who receive your organs. Secondly, having the chance to receive an organ that you may need. Consequently, your own life will be saved. Currently, over 116,000 patients in the United States are in need of a new organ, it is easy to help them and save their lives.

Registering to be an organ donor is a charitable act that costs nothing. It allows a donor to save up to eight lives through organ donations, and to save or improve the lives of up to 50 recipients through tissue and eye donation. As Tabarrok says in his essay: ”Being willing to give up an organ, should it no longer be of use to you, is the premium to be paid for the right to receive someone else’s organ if one yours fails. ” (582). And this what sums up what the “no-give-no-take” policy is all about.

In 2008, Israel turned that idea to a law. This latter has had an unusually tough time getting people to become organ donors, but once the rules changed, the response was extraordinary. Israelis are offering up their organs in the case of their death so fast, they are overwhelming the system. This would have a great impact on the United States as well, they’re might be some controversies, but people will get over it, and lots of lives will be saved. Thank you for your time. Sincerely yours, Ali lwa3r.