Organ donor website

dogdrool · #1 09-07-2006, 02:50 AM

I just saw a news report on TV about an organ donor website where anybody can go on and search for somebody to donate an organ to. They profiled some regular dude with a wife and kids who signed himself up to give away a kidney.

(I couldn't help but think of Curb Your Enthusiasm)

I don't think there's anyway I could do that. I just can't fathom it. If somebody in my family, or maybe a very close friend, needed an organ, I might step right up. But just some random on the internet -- wow.

The best part about the whole thing was when they asked the website founders how they prevent donors from being financially compensated (which is illegal), he said: "Well, we put in bold letters on the website that it is illegal to be compensated."

Bringing me to my point:

1) Would you donate an organ to a random website person for free?

2) If you could negotiate an under the table financial compensation, what would be your price, for, say, a kidney?

I'm at No for #1 and around $400k for #2.

iluvkittens · #2 09-07-2006, 04:34 AM

was it this?

http://www.matchingdonors.com

edfurlong · #3 09-07-2006, 04:39 AM

1 No

2 No money would be worth it to me right now. I can see situations where things could be different though.

I think I'd probably donate to someone farther from my circle than most people would consider appropriate though.

KlumsySmurf · #4 09-07-2006, 04:56 AM

1) No. When I die they can take whatever they want.

2) Dunno, I don't have this option anyways.

Something does need to be done with our current system, as people are waiting years for transplants they need now. But giving organs to random people on the internet? I don't think this is going to catch on very well.

My younger sister donated her kidney to me 3 years ago... I am forever grateful. If it wasn't for her, I'd probably still be on dialysis as the average wait for a kidney transplant was 5+ years 3 years ago, growing longer every year.

LrdNikon · #5 09-07-2006, 06:43 AM

They also have living donor matching where families can "trade" organs if they are not a mtch for their own family but match someone else and vice-versa.

dogdrool · #6 09-07-2006, 01:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]

2 No money would be worth it to me right now. I can see situations where things could be different though.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hear ya, but when I put together:

1) what an extra $400k could buy me, with
2) The fact that I'd probably survive the surgery just fine, and
3) some poor soul (well, not too poor if they're feeding me $400k) out there gets a better life

it seemed that $400k was about the right price point for me. That's untaxed, since it's under the table. Nice chunk.