Anna Oda
October 28, 98

This article is about the new law for organ donations. The government gave hospitals the order that they have to report each death to local organ procurement organizations. Before the law, the organizations said that they missed a lot of opportunities to save people who are waiting fore transplants because hospitals often do not ask the bereaved about donating organs. The law is copied from a 1995 Pennsylvania law which was successful in increasing the number of donors. Now the responsibility to identify appropriate donors is moved from hospitals to the organizations. The organizations expect that the law will expand the number of donors.

The reason I picked up this article is that I personally have an opinion about organ donations. I think this article does not consider the side of the hospitals as compared to the side of the organization. I wanted to know what hospitals thought about the new law. What will be the problem with when doctors and nurses are shut out under the law? The article does not explain this. When I read this article, I thought the statements of the organizations seemed disrespectful to the bereaved. I know they give people who are waiting for transplants opportunities to live and organ donations are very effective. However, I do not understand why there are people trained to approach the bereaved. There should not be any technique to approach families and organ donations should be their own decision. It seems they are trying to persuade the bereaved. If I die, I will not be a donor because I feel people who belong to the organizations are waiting for my death. However, I also feel guilty that I am not helpful for people who are suffering from disease.

1. procurement(noun): gain, win
procure(verb)
procurable(adj.)
" The rule shifts the responsibility to identify medically suitable donors from hospitals to the local organ procurement organizations. "

2. consent(noun): permission to do something
consent(verb)
" For the first time, it also requires that people with special training in organ donation approach families to request consent. "

3. abide(verb): to remain, continue, stay
abiding(adj.)
abidingly(adv.)
" Hospitals generally oppose the new rule but must abide by it to continue receiving payments from Medicare. "

4. deputy(noun): someone who has the second most powerful position in an organization deputy(adj.)
deputize(verb)
" deputy administrator for the Health Care Financing Administration, which runs Medicare. "

5. organ(noun): part of the body of an animal or plant that has a particular purpose nothing
" Arguing that too many families are not asked about organ donation when a loved one dies, the government ordered hospitals to report every death to local organizations that approach families and coordinate transplants. "

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