why can't prisoners donate organs

It is no mystery that the living conditions within a prison are less than favorable. Crowded living quarters and limited medical exposure make a perfect environment for the breeding and transferring of disease. Hepatitis C and HIV are just a few of the transferable diseases that can prevent a prisoner from being an eligible organ donor. Because contagious diseases may be more easily contracted in prisons, some argue prisoners should not be able to donate organs. There is a fear that donated organs from prisoners have diseases that are in a dormant stage. The easiest way to prevent the transfer of disease is to prevent prisoners from being donors. Sally Satel has a different approach. She argues:

Full Answer

Which organs and tissues can be donated after death?

more easily contracted in prisons, some argue prisoners should not be able to donate organs. There is a fear that donated organs from prisoners have diseases that are in a dormant stage. The easiest way to prevent the transfer of disease is to prevent prisoners from being donors.

What are the risks of organ donation?

Mar 06, 2011 · Because UNOS is the only organization ever to manage the OPTN and to facilitate the organ matching and donation process in the United States, their stance on the issue is very important, and probably one of the main reasons that all states currently prohibit procurement from death row prisoners and do not allow these prisoners to donate after their deaths even if …

What are the negative effects of organ donation?

Individuals in opposition to the death penalty might object to accepting an organ from either an executed prisoner or a prisoner who traded their organ for their life. Consider the effect that such a policy/law could have on organ donation overall. The number of potential organs recovered from condemned prisoners would be small.

How to become an organ donor?

Apr 26, 2013 · Beyond the problems of subtle coercion or inducement, it also may be unsafe to use prisoners for organ donation because they have much higher rates of infection from H.I.V. and hepatitis than the...

The Incarcerated Are Too Vulnerable to Consent

Despite rules that organ donations should not affect prisoner conditions, inmates will believe otherwise. Free consent is not truly possible under coercive conditions.

Let Those of Us in Prison Give Life to Others

The reasons that people cite for not allowing prisoners to donate organs are careless exaggerations that have become obsolete because of medical advancement.

We Must Draw the Line on Death-Row Inmates

As surgeons, we must avoid conflicts of interest and consistently say, “No, thank you” to organ donation from a prisoner who has been executed.

Let Prisoners Donate Their Organs

If healthy inmates are sincerely motivated to donate, fully educated about the risks and receive no special treatment in return, how are they not acting voluntarily?

With the Right Safeguards, the Utah Law Is Fine

One huge concern: this new law appears to leave open the possibility that death-row inmates could request to be executed by removal of their vital organs.