Letter to the Editor:
Organs should go to donors first
Published Nov. 10, 2009
Kudos to University Hospital for converting 75 percent of potential organ donors into actual donors. But a 75 percent conversion rate means that 25 percent of the organs that could have saved lives were buried or cremated instead.
There is a simple way to reduce this terrible waste — give donated 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 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 over 13,000 members, including 238 members in Missouri.
