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Peter Feldstein's avatar

What could possibly go wrong with giving Abbott, or any of the other Governors of the states that execute people, this sort of power? Besides providing a "moral" justification for continuing their policies of executing the poor (who are the only people executed, of course), it provides unimaginable opportunities for abuse. How about eliminating the death penalty, and letting any willing prisoner become an organ donor? Or would state officials even then find ways to exert undue influence in order to extract organs in exchange for privileges, up to and including parole release? Those incarcerated folks are utterly at the mercy of other people (and a huge percentage are mentally ill), and these sorts of contractual agreements ought not have such glaring power imbalances. Better think this one through really, really carefully, AEI.

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Sally Satel's avatar

Also, UNOS would refuse to procure the organs and doctors would not transplant them Your point is a nice thing to raise in a college seminar, but not a real life problem

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Sally Satel's avatar

Best solution is allow the rest of is to donate in exchange for a large refundable tax credit. Until the pig kidneys are ready.

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Peter Feldstein's avatar

How about this: let Bryan Stevenson write the legislation, and his Equal Justice Institute (or other reputable prisoner's rights organization) administer it. Solves my concerns! I just don't want Greg Abbott & Co. writing it, and his Commissioner of Prisons involved in it in any way. There's a history of this sort of thing, and it is not pretty.

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Sally Satel's avatar

Good choice!

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