Organ & Tissue Donation

Organ and tissue donation is often thought to be the height of altruism. This may be. However the organizations that collect, process and distribute human tissues for transplant and research are far less than altruistic. These organizations are given valuable human tisses that are then sold for cold hard cash. They may call it a "distribution fee" or a "reimbursement fee" but it is in fact the quid pro quo exchange of money for human tissues and organs. The Orange County Register has a good investigative story on the topic.
My concern is over the lack of willingness of the OPO (Organ Procurement Organizations) to assist many of the donor families that are in great financial need after the loss of a family member. A healthy full donor can generate over $1,000,000. The costs of loosing a loved one often includes medical bills, funeral expenses, loss on income and assistance. I worked for the Medical Examiner and saw many financialy ruined families because of the death of a parent. I worked for the tissue bank, eye bank and with the organ bank. while they make a fortune the families suffer yet another terrible burden. We were trained to hide behind stories of black market organs,non-profit status and the 1985 Anatomical Gift Act Law that forbids the selling of human tissues. Despite this law the non-profits do indeed sell the donated tissues for a huge profit. These organizations in Texas have been manipulating the state legislature for years, first having donor status listed on your DL, then having the state pass an "Implied Consent" law, then when the donor status on the DL got in the way of the implied consent the same organizations that pushed for it had it removed.
Contact your congresional rep and or state rep and expose this issue. The problem is that no one wantes to talk about it. I believe that families are entitled to some of the profits made from the sale of their loved ones tissues and organs. Would you, as next of kin give away a home or car when the loved one dies? Donation does improve and save lives, but the money should be shared, just like the organs and tissues.