Germans, you can keep your organs. For now.
The
German parliament recently voted down a proposal that would have made it mandatory
for every citizen to become an organ donor. The so-called “objection
solution,” was defeated by a vote of 379 to 292. An alternative proposal
seeking Germans’ opinions via an online database was passed.
The
“objection solution,” which sounds far too much like the “final solution,” was
proposed by health minister Jens Spahn, a member of the Christian Democratic
Union, though it sounds particularly unchristian and undemocratic.
Karl Lauterbach, a member of the Social Democratic Party, promoted the measure.
After the vote was taken, Lauterbach stated:
“I believe we will be here again in a few years, and then there will be a
majority for the ‘objection solution.’” He and Spahn believe that Germans may
be willing to surrender their organs en masse within three to five years.
Organ donation is, quite
literally, a very personal issue, one that involves a person’s views on body,
soul, metaphysics and religion. Forced organ donation sounds like something
from the Third Reich.
“Ouch! Hey, Heinrich, I’m not
dead yet! Take a hike, I’m still using my liver!”
Even if a significant majority
of a nation’s citizens are in favor of donating their organs, that doesn’t give
them—or their government—the right to demand others do the same.
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