Judging Who Is Worthy of a Transplant

As the sister of a liver transplantee, I am all too familiar with the suffering of the people quoted in the article “A Deadly Waiting Game” (Nov. 9), and they have my deepest sympathies. However, I must express my incredulity and outrage that Diane Jones would exclude people from receiving livers depending upon how their livers came to be damaged. It’s a very slippery slope indeed when we as a society begin deciding who may or may not receive medical treatment based on value judgments about their behavior. I realize that she speaks out of pain and anger, but how can she possibly believe that her child’s life is “worth” more than my brother’s? Would she deny his two children their father, his loving parents their adult son, his sister her big brother?

Clearly changes do need to be made in the nationwide organ distribution system, and I believe that pediatric patients should receive pediatric donations, but Ms. Jones’ argument strikes me as extremely dangerous. If we deny lifesaving treatment to alcoholics and drug addicts, who’s next to be excluded? Someone whose sexual orientation we disagree with? Someone whose skin color differs from ours?

This holiday season, my family gives thanks that my brother is here with us 2 1/2 years after his transplant. The most pressing issue, of course, is that there are not nearly enough donated organs to go around. I urge everyone this holiday to discuss organ donation with their families and make the decision to give the gift of life.

--SHERRI SCHOTTLAENDER

Los Angeles