Questions about life and death that have no answer…

This posting about life and death and weather it is right for someone to arbitrarily choose who will live and who will die based partially on what nationality they are. When it comes to someone needing a organ transplant, here in the United States, there has always been a list based on who needs the transplant more critically than another. Though they do not make it public there is also a criteria for those that will not be placed on that list. We as Americans understand that those in critical condition go to the head of the list and some do not make the list.

 

I can say with certainty that there is a little girl and boy laying in a hospital bed somewhere in the United States praying that they receive a transplant before they die. I can also say, based on the UNOS web site, that as of 2:25 am August 8th there are 76,226 people waiting for transplants in the US. So I wonder why for over a week now, illegal immigrants, many on a hunger strike, have gathered outside a Chicago-area hospital to demand free organ transplants for themselves and others who entered the country illegally.

Let us say you only have two little girls on the list of (equal) age and their physical conditions are (exactly) the same. Along comes a heart that matches (both perfectly). Who do you decide to allow to live and whom to let die? Did I forget to add there is only one difference between the two young girls, one is an American and one is here illegally. Not a factor you say? But remember they are both in exactly the same condition and only one heart. I believe as long as everything else is (equal) the girl who is a citizen would get the transplant. But to the people on the hunger strike they are saying it is prejudice and racism to pick her. So what criteria would they suggest be used to decide who gets the transplant, when everything else is equal?

To me this is a impossible situation to have to face. I believe all life is sacred and no one should be denied the chance of living. But I know I will always choose to help my family and countrymen first, and I am sure the people protesting would say the same thing. Into this perplexing question one should also add that if we opened the list to anyone who makes it to a hospital door, citizen or not, how long before we are unable to help other Americans?

I have no answer for this question

I only offer it for consideration and

I can only pray we make the right decision.

photo by Anthony