The American Spectator

Reader Mail

p> DONOR RECRUITMENT br> Re: Lawrence Henry's Organ Sharing: Some Thoughts : /p>

My husband had a heart transplant. We belong to an active support group with over 100 transplant patients -- hearts, livers, kidneys, lungs, corneas, etc. We also encourage patients waiting for a transplant to join our group. Have at least ten and often a great many more. This way they can talk to people who know what to expect and their spouses or other caregiver have the opportunity to talk to those who have been there.

We take very seriously our responsibility to get out the word about organ donations. Members of our group have talked to health classes in many of the school in our area and have plans to cover every high school in a three-county area. We arrange for booths at health fairs, regular fairs, the local airplane show, visit license bureaus weekly, and even make a point of wearing our shirts (have the words Transplant Recipients of Southwest Florida on them) on cruises.

If every area of the country had such an active group there would probably be more people signed up to be donors.

In the article on organ donations the author mentioned the states that can take a willing donor's organs even if the family doesn't agree. Florida is one of those states, but the procurement agency does not want to do that because of the bad publicity that could follow. There are enough "horror" stories out there -- as one who visits the license bureaus I hear plenty of them -- without creating more.

p>We wish Mr. Henry the best and pray this kidney will work. We also hope that he and his will continue to work to get more donors enrolled. br> -- Martha Craig /p>

I think Mr. Henry gives short shrift to the possibilities of compensation for organs and somewhat soft-pedals the "presumed consent" implications. Who, exactly, owns whom here?

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