- Pacific
Organ donation has become a vital way to save lives around the world, but
a vast shortage of donors continues to mean people are losing their lives while on waiting
lists.
But there is a unique proposal that could change all that.
New York State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky nearly lost his daughter, Willie, at 4 years
old when she needed a kidney transplant, and again 10 years later when her second kidney
failed.
"We have 10,000 New Yorkers on the list today waiting for organs. We import half the
organs we transplant. It is an unacceptable failed system," Brodsky said.
To fix that, Brodsky introduced a new bill in Albany that would enroll all New Yorkers as
an organ donor, unless they actually opt out of organ donation. It would be the first law
of its kind in the United States.
"Overseas, 24 nations have it. Israel has it. Others have it. And it works without a
lot of controversy," Brodsky said.
Currently one of the biggest obstacles to being a donor is while 9 out of 10 are favorable
to it only 1 out of 10 is signed up to be a donor.
On Wednesday, the New York Organ Donor Network honored families who've donated the organs
of loved ones with a planting ceremony at New York Botanical Gardens. Jean Carnevale had a
timely talk about organ donation with her 27-year=old son before he died in a fatal car
accident.
"Michael and I had a conversation two weeks prior on the way to a family member's
funeral," Carnevale said.
And Emily Melendez and her siblings made the choice for their 68-year-old mother.
"Although I lost my mom, she lives on in three other people," Melendez said.
"The thing about organ donor is we have the cure right now in our hands. It's not
like trying to cure cancer," said Elaine Berg of the Organ Donor Network.
Legal experts said if the law is passed, it will likely face challenges in court from
family members or some religious groups.
"I think it's a little heavy handed. I think we should have the right to choose
that," said Rachel Rogers of Crown Heights.
But many are hoping this law will help people to make a choice -- one way or the other.
Currently, you can make your organ donation wishes known by signing the back of your
driver's license, signing up online or through a health care proxy. We have more
information here. (WCBS
TV, 4.29.2010, Kirstin
Cole) http://wcbstv.com/health/ny.organ.donor.2.1662437.html