Thread: S.C. May Cut Jail Time for Organ Donors

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - 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."

The proposal approved by the Senate Corrections and Penology Subcommittee would set up a volunteer donor program in prisons to teach inmates about the need for donors. But lawmakers want legal advice before acting on a bill that would shave up to 180 days off a prison sentence for inmates who donate.

South Carolina advocates for organ donations said the incentive policy would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Federal law makes it illegal to give organ donors "valuable consideration." Lawmakers want to know whether the term could apply to time off of prison sentences.

"We want to make this work, we really do," said Republican Sen. John Hawkins. "But I want to make sure no one goes to jail for good intentions."

Mary Jo Cagle, chief medical officer of Bon Secours St. Francis Health System in Greenville, urged senators to find an allowable incentive.

"We have a huge need for organs and bone marrow," Cagle said.

But Melissa Blevins, executive director of Donate Life South Carolina, said any incentive would break the law and the principle behind donations.

"It really muddies the water about motive. We want to keep it a clearly altruistic act," she said.

Under the proposals, money for medical procedures and any prison guard overtime would be paid by the organ recipient and charitable groups. The state would also decide which inmates could donate.

Corrections Department Director Jon Ozmint said he believes inmates would donate even without the incentive.

"There are long-term inmates who would give if they knew a child was dying," he said. "They're lifers. They know they're going to die in prison."

More than 95,300 Americans are awaiting an organ transplant, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. About 6,700 die each year.

http://bob.wjla.com/headlines/0307/403957.html

I really don't think that I would want a transplant from someone that is in jail.

i agree
this is a tough topic.
but there are those who have made mistakes, are paying their price and truly would want to help someone who without their donation, would die.
we all make mistakes and some of those in prison are very remorseful.
i dont think it should be available , early releases etc to serious offenders, rapists, murderers etc...only to smaller crimes that didnt HURT someone literally.

I am not talking about the fact that they are in jail...I am talking about the diseases that tend to run around in jails. A lot of those diseases do not test positive for years.

For it to work properly I believe that prisoners would have to show that they would not do any kind of activity to harm their organs for a long period of time. Which would be great for rehabilitation. Some would have a reason to not do drugs or be promiscuious (sp). Pull doanting an organ is always seen as putting other ahead of yourself. Which, if you think about it, is a good sign of a rehabilitaed person...or close to it. And if you disagree with that notion then why don't more people donate organs openly. I've always heard there is an over all shortage of various organs and even blood. Doanting an organ is not something that some people jump into lightly...especially because of the risk involved.

The sale of organs is illegal per se, but it is still quietly done. Those who can pay for an organ do so. For example, Mickey Mantle got a liver eventhough he had lung cancer which according to protocols excludes you from the list. Pat Summerall couldn't get a liver in Texas, the state he resides in. He flew to Florida and got a liver from the Mayo Clinic in less than 10 days. He bumped people already at the top of the list and he was over 70 years old, which would exclude him from the lists.

I actually don't believe in transplantation. If I were told tomorrow that I would need a transplant to live, I would choose to not have the transplant. Just as when my children were minors, I would not have had a transplant done for them and I would not have donated their organs. Now that they are grown that is their choice and I will abide by it if that is what they choose. This is a personal decision and rather hard to explain, so, I won't go into those details or "debate" my side of the coin.

That's ok tngirl, I too am against it and am NOT an organ donor. It is a personal decision and I too won't defend it beyond stating that just because you CAN do something it doesn't mean you should.