MASSACHUSETTS: State of Massachusetts in US to reduce the sentence of prisoners who are ready to donate organs. A bill is being prepared to give prisoners a reprieve of upto 365-days if they are willing to undergo bone marrow transplant and organ donation. Once the law comes into effect, prisoners will be able to get relief from 60 to 365 days.
A five-member committee has been appointed for the project. Other criteria for exemptions are monitored by this committee. The reduced days vary depending on the amount of bone marrow donated and the number of organs donated. Currently, only close relatives can donate organs. But organ donation from prisoners sentenced to death is not allowed.
According to a report by the United Network for Organ Sharing, there are currently 104,413 people registered for organ donation in the United States. Out of this 58,970 people are on the active waiting list. Officials say that if the bill is passed, organ donation among prisoners will be widely encouraged