If the government made a law stating that all healthy organs must be taken from the recently deceased and given to those who are sick, then I would be the first one in line to agree with that. To me, saving a life is more important than allowing organs to waste when they could give someone else a chance to live. I believe that we must show love and compassion to others, even after death, by giving the gift of life through organ donation.
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I have often thought about how people spend huge amounts of money on burials, focusing more on the ceremony than the life of the person when they were alive. It's heartbreaking to see families go to extreme lengths, planning expensive funerals while neglecting the needs of the person when they were alive. Sometimes, I wonder why people let valuable organs rot away with the corpse when they could be used to save someone else who is fighting to survive. My husband and I have discussed this on numerous occasions, and I have explained to him how this does not make much sense to me.
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Such a pronouncement would have serious ramifications in the long run. On the positive side, many lives would be saved. And those people waiting on transplant lists could get the organs that they so desperately need. Instead of dying from preventable causes, they would have the chance to live full and healthy lives. That way, families won't have to see their loved ones waste away, because they couldn't get some organ in time. That would also lower health care cost over all because people wouldn't have to be on life support as much while they are waiting for transplants.
Then again, the disadvantages might be difficult. Some families might be deeply affected by the idea of their loved one's body being "harvested" for organs. From a cultural standpoint, many feel that burial is the "proper" way to bury someone and that to take out organs is just being disrespectful to the dead. Others may also worry that this ruling could be exploited. If organ donation becomes mandatory, people may start to question the motives behind certain deaths, especially in corrupt societies where trust in the system is low. Also there are emotional and psychological repercussions for the families that are not prepared to give up the body of their loved ones in such a manner.
I, myself, could abide by this law, for I feel that everyone deserves the right to life. I care about human life, and if I could save someone's life, even if I'm dead, I'm all for it. But I know everyone isn't like that. I realize that the idea of forced organ donation would probably make people feel uneasy, if they think they will be punished if they don't.
If the government decided to heavily punish people who did not follow this decree, it could force people to comply out of fear rather than genuine willingness to help. I just think that if someone is going to donate their organs they should do it because they care not because they are scared. But in this case I would prefer to save a life then to have organs go to waste. To me, it’s not about what the government decides but about what is right, saving a dying soul when we have the power to do so is a beautiful act of love and humanity.
