News Staff Reporter
The last thing anyone wants to do is spend more time at the DMV: the endless lines, the numerous forms, the wasted hours. After putting up with the whole ordeal it’s not surprising that many people just check no to the question, “Would you like to be an organ donor?” Organ donation is one of the last things on our minds. It is a question that will inevitably bring us to examine our own values and moralities, which, honestly, is completely frightening to your average adolescent. And really, who wants to think about dying in a car accident? Others are simply not well-informed about organ donation, and consequently feel hesitant about signing up when applying for a driver’s license.
Our nation’s level of organ donation is a growing problem. Every year the gap widens between those who need organs and individuals who are willing to donate. Six thousand people each year die because they cannot get the organs they need. Eighty thousand people are currently on the waiting list, but cannot get the body parts they need. Many of these poor souls simply abandon hope as the wait is so long and the chance of being lucky enough to get an organ in time is slim.
One possible solution to the problem is fairly simple. Instead of asking people to donate their organs, the state could implement an opt-out system. Most of us aren’t against donating our organs after we have died, but we don’t want to take the time to consider our own deaths – a simple “no” is just easier. Under an opt-out system, everyone automatically donates their organs unless they ask not to. This allows organs to be donated, but if one has a religious concern, they can opt-out. A poll in Great Britain found that 70% of people wouldn’t mind donating their organs, but only 16% of them have signed up. Under an opt-out system, those 70% of people would donate their organs after they have passed away, a significant increase over the current numbers.
Until an opt-out system is implemented in the United States, take the time to agree to donate. Your death could bring life to another. Without the need to keep the parts, why not help someone else so that they could live a prosperous life? I know if I were in need of a body part, and was going to die, I would be overjoyed to receive a part from someone who had recently passed away. Organ donation is a noble act--without any cost, you can bring the gift of life to someone else. In the end, at the least, it will buy you a little extra karma, so why not? When renewing your driver license, take the extra moment, and say “Yes, I want to be an organ donor.”
