In the US state of Massachusetts, prisoners may soon be able to shorten their time in prison by donating organs or bone marrow. The bill on organ donation leading to a reduced sentence will be voted on soon.
If passed, the law will allow some prisoners to have at least 60 and up to 365 days reduced from their sentence. A five-member committee will oversee the scheme and decide on the criteria for prisoners interested in the program. In addition, they also make a decision about “the amount of bone marrow or organ that must be donated to commute someone’s sentence.”
According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are currently 104,413 people in the US waiting for an organ transplant, of which 58,970 are on an active waiting list.
Currently, organ donations from prison are only possible if the recipient is a member of their immediate family. Organ donation is also not allowed in any state for executed prisoners, even if they are registered as organ donors.
Physical autonomy
Judith Garcia, a co-sponsor of the bill, said the bill would “restore inmates’ bodily autonomy by allowing them to donate organs and bone marrow.”
Although not everyone sees it so rosy. “We are concerned about the potential for coercion and the impact of inadequate medical care in a prison environment,” said Jesse White, director of Prisoners’ Legal Services.
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