Death Row Inmates

[goofynina]

I was watching this investigation show the other night and it was about this guy on Death Row who killed 2 people and his time for execution was up.  He said that he wanted to donate his organs to anyone who needs them because it was the only "good" thing he could possibly think of doing before he was executed.  After so long, he was eventually denied.  What do you all think about this?  Do you think we should allow inmates on Death Row donate or do you think they still have the right to determine whether or not to donate? 

[Rerun]

I would not want one.  God knows what they have done in their lives. 

Could be their last revenge on society.

[Hawkeye]

I would not want one.  God knows what they have done in their lives. 
Could be their last revenge on society.

Not only that but you also have to figure these people have just been killed in some fashion or another.  What kind of condition are those organs going to be in afterwards and would they be safe to the recipient if they were still in good shape.  Lethal injection especially I think would be a big no no donor.

[okarol]

Here's a related article from 2005:
Death Row Inmate Can’t Donate Organs — Too Expensive
    James Joyner | Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Michael Demmons points us to the interesting case of Gregory Scott Johnson, an Indiana death row inmate who wants to donate his liver to his dying sister but is being denied on the grounds that it would require him to undergo expensive tests that at taxpayer expense.

There’s another complication:

    Many organs used in transplants come from the bodies of those recently deceased, but in Johnson’s case, the chemicals used in his lethal injection would make the liver and kidneys unusable. He has asked prison officials if he could be electrocuted instead, in which case it might be possible to reuse the organs.

    That request is not likely to be granted because the equipment needed for an electrocution is no longer in place at the prison. State law has changed and now requires executions to be carried out by injection rather than in the electric chair.

The alternative is a “split liver” operation but there are expenses associated with that as well.

Michael sees some eerie parallels with the Terri Schiavo case, where a lot of taxpayer money was spent trying to keep someone alive who purportedly wanted to die.

It’s an interesting conundrum and my inclination would be to do what was necessary to keep Johnson’s 38-year-old sister alive here. Still, the Department of Corrections raises a good point here.

If Deborah Otis’ brother were not an inmate of the state, would we pay any of the costs for her to get a liver transplant?

[paris]

Wouldn't electicution zap organs, too?   It seems like a good source of organs, but would have to remove them first.  Could that be their chosen type of death sentence??  Lots of pre-screening would have to be done.   It will be interesting to hear everyone's opinions.

[oswald]

i think they should be allowed to donate, if they meet all the requirements for donation.  as long as they are healthy, and their organs are in good condition, why wouldn't anyone accept it.  i seen the same show and thought what a waste it was to throw away possibly good organs.  

[angela515]

I think they should be allowed too. They should have to go through all the testing and so forth to even see if they medically can or not, but if so, why waste an organ? I don't get it.

[Joe Paul]

Might sound rough, but if they are sentenced to die and want to donate, why not knock them out, harvest the usable organs while they are under then give them the shot?

[okarol]

Might sound rough, but if they are sentenced to die and want to donate, why not knock them out, harvest the usable organs while they are under then give them the shot?

You could only take the corneas and kidneys, because the lungs, heart and liver need to remain to support life, unless they are put on life support so you can execute them.
I know it sounds ghoulish, but also very practical. I bet it'll never happen.

[Wattle]

I bet it'll never happen.

It will never happen here. We don't have the Death Penalty.   

[Deanne]

I was thinking exactly what Joe Paul said. How will the testing be any different from any other cadaver donor?