Each day seventy-seven people receive an organ transplant, while nineteen people die each day waiting for transplants that can’t take place because of the shortage of organ donors. Without organ donors, nothing can be done for thousands of men, women, and children whose only hope lies in the hands of generous random strangers who are willing to give the gift of life. One donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance the lives of 50 others. The most surprising fact about organ donation is that some organs can be donated even when a person is still alive. Most organs are however transplanted only after the donor is dead. In her essay titled "When Altruism Isn't Moral,” published in Writing from Sources Dr. Sally Satel argues that the live organ transplant system in the United States needs to change in order for a complete stranger to donate organs; like kidneys and livers. Dr. Satel believes that donors should be compensated through rewards, tax breaks, or even lifetime health insurance. The system should allow more people to donate,…show more content… The desire to do well by others for pay, is not uncommon. We pay for the treatments that save our lives and that it what our lives are. How could organs be any different than paying up to 100,000 for medical treatment. Police officers, firefighters, doctors and teachers, for example are no less valuable because they are being paid to do their jobs. Just like in organ donation. Her explanation of how organ donation is flawed when only altruism is taken into account and her solutions to the problem are well explained and logically thought out. With her solution the donor system could possibly give organs to all of those who need one without ruining the altruism that is represented when a life is saved. This solution gives merit and lends itself to the destruction of the black market organ sales. Organs should be thought of as a gift of life; an act of selfless
