Did this one just go by everyone? Organ harvesting bill blows through State Senate
I was minding my own affairs when I caught the Mercer article in the Aberdeen American News (Please go on-line Bob... We bloggers need you there!) titled "Body-Part Donation Process altered. I had heard something in passing about the bill, not giving it a second thought. Until I read this article, and found my jaw dropping.
What did Bob have to say about it?
My response.... WHAT!?! ARE THEY FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?
So, if I read this article correctly, unless I somehow affirm in writing that I don't want my organs harvested, the legislature actually intends to allow someone to strip my corpse like a stolen car, regardless of what my wife has to say about it?
Now don't get me wrong. I think organ donation is as noble of a thing as you can do in the case of the loss of a family member. What I reject in it's absolute entirety is the assertion that the legislature is going to give organ harvesters a shot at me no matter what my wife or family might say.
Absent prior refusal, the legislature is going to give a business (or organization) first rights to the disposition of my remains over that of my wife or children. That offends me on so many levels, I'm almost seething at the prospect. Because the notion that government can shove a grieving spouse out of the way in a decision to harvest my organs is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!
It used to be that once you died, you were free from the government taking anything more from you. If this passes, guess what, they're only going to get started. Over a wife or child's objections, they'll let someone put you up on the blocks, strip you of anything of value, and then hand you over. Hopefully, they'll be enough left for a closed casket. Because this bill allows for them to take the whole thing if they so choose for "research."
Admittedly, the language in this measure is complicated and at times confusing. So, it is possible that the interpretation I'm reading might be in dispute.
But if it's not - look out.
We can only speculate whether they'll give this measure some thought in the House of Representatives before they decide to drop spouses and children behind organ harvesting companies in the pecking order of disposing of your earthly remains.
Go read the bill here and decide for yourselves.
(Update - go read my new post. I might have misjudged this one - pp)
What did Bob have to say about it?
"Senators voted 35-0 Tuesday for legislation that gives harvesters - formally known as procurement organizations - first priority in the process of deciding whether a person's body parts should be donated."(Go buy the Aberdeen American News to read it all.)
"Harvesters would move ahead of the spouse, children, siblings or other family members."
"The measure, SB 197, now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration."
and...
"Currently, the spouse is first on the list of who decides whether donations should occur..."
and...
"The proposed law would allow a procurement organization to override a family member's wishes.."
My response.... WHAT!?! ARE THEY FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?
So, if I read this article correctly, unless I somehow affirm in writing that I don't want my organs harvested, the legislature actually intends to allow someone to strip my corpse like a stolen car, regardless of what my wife has to say about it?
Now don't get me wrong. I think organ donation is as noble of a thing as you can do in the case of the loss of a family member. What I reject in it's absolute entirety is the assertion that the legislature is going to give organ harvesters a shot at me no matter what my wife or family might say.
Absent prior refusal, the legislature is going to give a business (or organization) first rights to the disposition of my remains over that of my wife or children. That offends me on so many levels, I'm almost seething at the prospect. Because the notion that government can shove a grieving spouse out of the way in a decision to harvest my organs is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!
It used to be that once you died, you were free from the government taking anything more from you. If this passes, guess what, they're only going to get started. Over a wife or child's objections, they'll let someone put you up on the blocks, strip you of anything of value, and then hand you over. Hopefully, they'll be enough left for a closed casket. Because this bill allows for them to take the whole thing if they so choose for "research."
Admittedly, the language in this measure is complicated and at times confusing. So, it is possible that the interpretation I'm reading might be in dispute.
But if it's not - look out.
We can only speculate whether they'll give this measure some thought in the House of Representatives before they decide to drop spouses and children behind organ harvesting companies in the pecking order of disposing of your earthly remains.
Go read the bill here and decide for yourselves.
(Update - go read my new post. I might have misjudged this one - pp)
Comments
Unless I'm misreading, this does not place a procurement organization's wishes ahead of those of the spouse, it simply states that the last recorded wishes of the individual in question stand regardless of whether or not the spouse agrees with those wishes.
Denny Crain
I do not trust the body snatchers. There is too much money in body parts because nobody bothered to regulate to make sure body parts were donated. Since they started selling cadaver tissue and bones there are more problems with bodies being stripped in funeral homes. This is so sick.
Even if you checked a donor box your family still should get the first say or there won't be enough left to bury.
Remind me to die at home and have them burn me in a fire out back.