Argumentative Essay: Inmate Organ Donation

Christian Longo’s life spiraled out of control, scattered with crime and financial ruin that led down the path of bankruptcy (Lin et al.). Upon realizing his inadequacy to support his growing family, Longo liberated them from his embarrassing shortcomings (Lin et al.). “He strangled [his wife] and two-year old daughter…[and] stuffed his three-year old daughter…and four-year old son… into pillow cases, weighted them down with rocks, and threw them, still alive, into a nearby pond” (Lin et al.). However, despite his murderous crimes, Longo, like so many other inmates before him, pleaded with the state to allow him to donate his organs upon his death. Despite the increasing pressure for inmate organ donations throughout the country, no legislation
In other words, the Act outlines that individuals cannot donate organs for specific benefits, such as reduced sentencing in the case of inmate organ donation. However, inmate organ donation in itself does not override the legislation, especially in the case of death row prisoners donating after execution. Furthermore, while opponents to inmate organ donation often cite ethical concerns, such as the coercive nature of prisoner donation, the continued ignorance of prisoner organ donation overrides the autonomy of the inmate as an individual. Despite the fact that prisoners experience revocation of specific rights, “they are not ‘owned’ body and soul by the state. Prisoners still possess the autonomy to make certain decisions” (Bagatell, Kahn, and Owens). Moreover, as Dr. Huige Li has continuously rhetorically questioned his colleagues through his seat on the Doctors Against Forced Open Harvesting board, “If prisoner organ donation [remains upheld as] theoretically correct, what can prevent it [from] happening?” (Tatlow). Essentially, Li distinctly demonstrates the government’s inability to continuously blatantly ignore the prisoner population as
In the United States alone, one hundred and thirteen thousand people wait desperately for the availability of organs, while the “three thousand death row prisoners [alone make]…the answer… clear: Allow for the donation” (Perskey 18). Some argue that of the three thousand available organs, many would remain ineligible for donation due to disease, complications, and lack of consent. However, if even one third of death row inmates actually donated their organs, up to eight thousand citizens could be saved. Furthermore, while some critics hold that those waiting on transplant lists may not accept organs from prisoners, multiple polls by the American people have demonstrated the widespread support of inmate organ donation. For example, in a survey “conducted by MSNBC news organization in April of 2011, almost eighty percent of [the] eighty six thousand seven hundred and thirty six voters responded ‘yes’ to the question, ‘Should death row inmates [have the option] to donate their organs?” (Lin et al). Moreover, when asking patients in need of organs through the active organ waiting list, seventy-five percent of respondents indicated that they would graciously accept an organ donation, whether from a prisoner or otherwise (Lin et al.). Therefore, the prisoner population within the United States could save