The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is authorized by NOTA to operate and manage the OPTN network. UNOS responsibilities are matching patients with the correct donor, creating a just criteria of distribution, and establishing regulations for each transplant. Policies of UNOS are constantly revised and created by UNOS committees composed of “transplant physicians, government officials, specialists in immunology, experts of organ donations, and donor families” (Understanding the Organ Transplant Waiting List 1). Although UNOS promises to be just and fair, the distribution of organs creates tension because of the limited amount of resources (Plate 1). A solution to ensure that organs are used to their maximum potential is to restrict prisoners of priority medical care. The United Network of Organ Sharing Ethics Committee has …show more content…
Prisoners would not necessarily have to be completely cut away from organ resources but rather have being convicted a factor when considering who is worthy. Because all prisoners are not convicted of the same crime, the severity of their crime could also be a factor. Basing organ donations by severity of crime would allow prisoners to still receive organs which would not be considered “unlawful.” It should be acceptable to look at two cases and put someone who pays for their living and abides by the rules higher than someone who has disobeyed the law. This would give a chance to those who actually deserve an organ. “David L. Perry, Ph.D. of Santa Clara University suggests that organs should be distributed based on three different factors: degree of needs, probability that the transplant will be successful, and history of violent crimes” (Plate 3). Societal