OMG...tell me what you think of this! "S.C. May Cut Jail Time for Organ Donors"

[in_cog_ni_to]

A DEMOCRAT is the chief sponsor? Does anyone else find this appalling? "Give me your kidney and I'll give you a get out of jail card?" I don't know. This seems so WRONG to me. Desperate people do desperate things. Is this right? Am I wrong to see this as preying on people who are in no state of mind to be making a life changing decision like this? What happens if a prisoner dies during one of these surgeries? Will their family be compensated? This seems so wrong.:(


S.C. May Cut Jail Time for Organ Donors
By SEANNA ADCOX, Associated Press Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Inmates in South Carolina could soon find that a kidney is worth 180 days.

Lawmakers are considering legislation that would let prisoners donate organs or bone marrow in exchange for time off their sentences.

A state Senate panel on Thursday endorsed creating an organ-and-tissue donation program for inmates. But legislators postponed debate on a measure to reduce the sentences of participating prisoners, citing concern that federal law may not allow it.

"I think it's imperative that we go all out and see what we can do," said the bills' chief sponsor, Democratic Sen. Ralph Anderson. "I would like to see us get enough donors that people are no longer dying."<snip>

http://www.comcast.net/news/national/index.jsp?cat=DOMESTIC&fn=/2007/03/08/605624.html&cvqh=itn_organdonors

[Ian David]

1. Subject: Organ Harvesting - The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton

Elbandeedo 12/30/2002 7:59:01 AM
Great story by Larry Niven. - It's not military as much as detective. sorry 'bout the OT, this is closest board there is on SP.

The hero has lost an arm in a mining accident in the astroid belt. he discovers he has a weak psychic arm; it has the same reach as his real arm, but drastically weaker. he get's to the point where he can lift shot glasses of liquor to his lips with it - great pick up stunt!
he comes back to earth to get a free arm transplant, since arms and legs are in excess. he finds that his arm came from an unwilling donor - a person was kidnapped and murdered for his organs by an 'organ-legger'. "organ legging" is now a highly profitable form of crime, as a single liver, kidney, or heart can cost millions on the black market.
Capitol punishment results in criminals being put to sleep to be taken apart for their useable parts. So, as selfish human nature takes it normal course in creating more laws "for the common good", lesser and lesser crimes (like jaywalking!) become capitol offenses.
It's a great read, good detective stories. (it's actually several short stories.)
This might have some relevance to the cloning issue, on the offshoot topic of organ harvesting.
Whether it's relevant or not, I highly recommend this book!

http://www.strategypage.com/militaryforums/390-124.aspx

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. What a prolife sort of effed up way of doing things.... then again,

if people knew that a liver can pretty much regenerate if the correct supplements are employed, this sort if thing would not even be considered. Sick bastards.

[Greyskye]

9. you read my mind

When I opened this thread, I already was thinking to myself, "Niven was right. And so it begins."

[GrumpyGreg]

It IS wrong----no better than selling organs. Disgusting !!!!!

[leveymg]

3. "Soylent Green is people!"

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. THAT WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT WHEN I READ THIS!

Soylent Green.:scared:

[Turbineguy]

4. It's a slippery slope.

[UnyieldingHierophant]

6. it's fuckin' ridiculous, that's what i think

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

7. Depends on the offender.

If it's someone who's not likely to be a danger to society once released<1>, then I see no harm in letting an act that will save someone else's life count as a partial repayment of his/her debt to society.

<1> Of course, this is contingent on a proper psychological screening policy, which I personally have no faith in whatsoever.

[Quakerfriend]

8. In China, prisoners have been forced to give organs for some

time.

So unethical!

"Body Brokers" by Mary Cheney (2006) will scare the living $%^%$$ out of you! A must read for anyone who thinks they are going to be cremated. NOT!

(And, of course Big Pharm is a big player is this outrageous underground industry.)

[w4rma]

10. Bad juju. (nt)

[sam sarrha]

11. Universal ID card.. identifies you .. you are arrested, jailed and amputated or get gang raped ..

[sandnsea]

12. My mother was a heart recipient

and this is absolutely horrifying.

[in_cog_ni_to]

13. I think organ donating is a wonderful thing, especially for people like your mother,

but her heart came from a deceased person. Other organ donors are FREE and HEALTHY when donating. THIS just seems SO UNETHICAL. I can't believe a DEMOCRAT is the chief sponsor of this bill.:(

[sandnsea]

14. Oh I know

I am so horrified I can't even formulate my thoughts.

[TahitiNut]

15. If anything, prisoners should be prohibited from donating organs.

Not because it's 'wrong' or that they might be faulty, but because we cannot be assured they're acting under their own volition.

This is wrong on too many levels. Despicable.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. That too! Who can say they didn't have a gun held to their head

to donate an organ? I can see prison guards getting kickbacks for organs. Or a black market running out of prisons. My G-d. This could go to VERY dark places.