Friends,

Bob Gutman calls our attention to this article about a Pennsylvania bill that would allow living organ donors to deduct up to $10,000 in unreimbursed expenses related to the donation from their taxable income.  That would include costs like travel, lodging, lost wages and medical expenses.

This bill underscores the fact that it is not exactly clear what compensation is allowed under the National Organ Transplant Act and what is not.  Potential organ recipients, faced with harsh penalties under NOTA (a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonment not more than five years, or both) understandably tend to be overly-cautious in offering compensation to potential donors.  As a consequence, fewer organs are donated.  And the cruel arithmetic of kidney donation is that anytime a person is prevented or discouraged from donating a kidney, someone dies.

It would be very helpful if some group with legal expertise could get the government to specify in some detail exactly what is and is not legally permitted.  This step alone could save many lives.

Frank