The shortage of organs for transplantation is a thorny problem. Nearly 118,000 people in the U.S. are on waiting lists for transplants of kidneys, hearts, livers, and other organs; an estimated 8,000 of them will not live to receive a transplant.
The desperate situation has spurred various searches for solutions. Scientists are working on ways to preserve donated organs longer and are developing algorithms that factor in a patient’s proximity to a transplant center along with their health characteristics. Others have suggested ways to increase the organ supply, maybe through financial compensation for donors, or via relaxed standards for donated organs.
I am a resident of the United Kingdom. England will be changing to opt out in the spring of 2020. I am of the opinion that this may well back fire especially after the Alder-Hay scandal of 1988-1995.
As a result of this new legislation being introduced in England next year I have, along with most members of my family have opted out completely, where as before most of us were happily opted in. We have taken this stance as a demonstration against the British Governments attitude that seems to give us the impression that the state owns our bodies when in fact they don’t.
Opt out is great in countries that have universal care; Spain is a good example of an excellent health and transplant system. The USA is a For-Profit system and of course it has horrendous financial barriers to transplant. Until the US system changes, I don’t think opt out is at all appropriate.