|
|
|
   |
| ||||||
|
|
Give in order to receiveSentinel Staff WriterJanuary 3, 2005 Regarding the Dec. 25 article "Organs of girl killed by SUV let others live": If more people were as generous as Ivan and Yamilka Velez, we wouldn't have more than 6,000 Americans dying every year waiting for organ transplants. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate thousands of lifesaving organs every year. More than 6,000 of our neighbors suffer and die needlessly every year as a result. There is a simple solution to the organ shortage: Give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die. Giving organs first to organ donors will persuade more people to sign donor cards. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. About 70 percent of the organs transplanted in the United States go to people who haven't agreed to donate their own organs when they die. People who are too lazy or too selfish to register as organ donors shouldn't be eligible for transplants 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. They do this through a form of directed donation that is legal in all 50 states and under federal law. Anyone can join for free at www.lifesharers.com. LifeSharers has 2,783 members, including 170 members in Florida. David J. Undis Executive Director LifeSharers Nashville Copyright © 2005, Orlando Sentinel | Get home delivery - up to 50% off |
|
|
|
