How’s this for a thriller concept:
Deep in debt to the healthcare industries that got him elected, the President of the United States, signs into effect the “Die and Deliver” bill, allowing physicians to harvest the organs of deceased patients without first obtaining consent.
Interesting idea, isn’t it?
It’s not really mine. I cribbed (and embellished) it from news coming out of the UK, which basically states that Gordon Brown is backing a program of “presumed consent” –removing organs from dead patients (hey this is real life, in a novel they’d still be alive!) unless family members protest, or the deceased has opted out of the donor register.
I’m personally all for organ donation, so I think this is a great idea. (An idea that’s already been tested in Spain where they have the highest proportion of organ donation.) It’ll be interesting to see if it flies.
Living in the US and interested in becoming a donor? Go here to find out how http://www.organdonor.gov/ It’s painless. I promise!
I’ve always thought the donor program should be an ‘opt out’ instead of an ‘opt in’ – I’m sure a lot of people would protest, but it would get everyone to consider the option. Maybe opt in for anyone under 21, opt out for anyone older.
Comment by bgardner — January 15, 2008 @ 8:39 am
Makes perfect sense to me!
Comment by jenniferelbaum — January 15, 2008 @ 6:21 pm