Time off of prison for organ donation. Good or Bad?

Question

SC lawmakers are looking into making a law that will allow prisoners as much as 180 days off their sentence if they make a viable organ or bone marrow donation. I would like to know people's thought on whether they think its a good or bad idea.

Answer 1

Most of the people on the list awaiting donation will die long before a suitable donor becomes available.
I had never thought of offering prisoners time off for making a donation - but that really has potential, but the problem is if the donor dies because the procedure the family is gonna be on a lawsuit like a fat man on a buffet.
Plus there is the issue of drug use among the prison population, and the latent problems with blood borne disease such as the heps and HIV.

Hmmmm -- good concept, but not likely practical in application.

Personally, I think we should mandate donation of all viable organs of anyone declared brain dead.

Answer 2

The reason I believe that this is a good idea, is because many people in prison are suffering guilt, and regardless if they've done something wrong and there are some people who feel they should be rotting away in there - prison reform is very important for all of us. Offering 180 days is an incentive, in the beginning, but the reward for everyone involved, as well as society could be much larger.

If prisoners are willing to do this, it could have HUGE benefits on their feelings of self worth - for which many have none. Actually doing something toward HELPING someone else, could create a change in them, where no amount of therapy could.

I definitely believe it's worth a try ...

Answer 3

Not a bad idea. I think we could give a greatly reduced sentence to specific donors. For example: Reduce to time served the sentence of any convict who volunteers to donate a heart with surgery that afternoon. Child molesters could be allowed to donate the material for a penile transplant in exchange for a sentence of only 20 years. Who says we don't come up with innovative corrections ideas here in SC.

Answer 4

I think it is a TERRIBLE idea. First of all, none of this could be truly "voluntary" on the part of the inmates as long as there is an incentive for them to participate. Inmates are not even allowed to donate blood or participate in research if they are led to believe they will receive something of value (reduced time) in return.

Second, there will inevitably be inmates who are willing to participate but whose organs are unacceptable for donation. This will lead to claims of inequality in the program and on and on the mess will go.

Answer 5

BAD!

A criminal still acted criminally, and should get the punishment they deserve. Donating an organ doesn't make them NON-criminals - they'll just be out on the street sooner, without much of a punishment.

Organ donation is not a punishment, it is a very altruistic thing to do, and one should do it willingly, not because it is a way to get out of jail faster.

Answer 6

I would say it depends on the crime.... for violent offenders and child molesters "NO". For the most part I think it's probably a decent idea...when you commit a crime against society, society needs payback. My concern would be that they say disease (aids,hepatitis,etc) is common place in prisons and any disease they might have could possibly escape the screening process and possibly be passed on to the recipient. So I'd say extra scrutiny during the process would be in order.

Answer 7

Bone marrow is painful but replaceable. Organs aren't. It's like making prisoners second class citizens. Ok....they screwed up otherwise they wouldn't be where they are.....but I think it stinks.

Answer 8

Well, since it's voluntary and 180 days really isn't that much, I say if it helps others, then go for it.

Answer 9

It's good for the person that needs a transplant, not so good for the rest of society.

Answer 10

Do the crime Serve your time bad idea