It Should Be the Norm That Our Organs are Harvested When We Die

[Toasterlad]

This occurred to me while reading what someone said in another thread. We have a terrible problem with a shortage of transplant organs in this country. Currently, we can only harvest the organs of those who agree to the procedure before their death, or those whose families agree to it after death. Why isn't that the reverse? Why don't we harvest organs unless the person specifies before they die that they DON'T want their organs donated, or UNLESS the family steps forward and specifically states that they don't want the body's organs removed?

Dead is dead. What is the point of burying or burning perfectly usable organs that could help thousands of people? If you have a religious bias against it, opt out. If you're just generally creeped out by it, opt out. But I feel it should be the norm that we take the organs, not the other way around.

BTW, since it ISN'T the norm to harvest organs, please make sure that you're registered with your DMV as an organ donor, or, failing that, make your wishes known to your family. People who need a transplant die every day, while every day, we bury thousands of perfectly usable organs. This is something easy that you can do to help someone else. And I promise you, you'll never miss them.