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“Organ Donation”
1. Summary
The third text “I’m donating my kidney to a stranger” by Richard Wilson is about Paula Mackinnon, who is made the target of scepticism after she expresses her desire to donate one of her kidneys to a stranger. At the beginning, she wanted to aid her ill mother, who suffered from a kidney failure, by giving her a kidney. Later on, they found out that their blood groups weren’t a match. She didn’t change her decision to donate her kidney and wanted to give it to someone who needs it. Donating to a stranger is called altruistic donation and was implemented in September 2006 by the Human Tissue Act. Before that living donors were merely permitted to donate to relatives. However, this act has only obtained 11 kidney-donors in the UK. Paula’s husband, Colin, supports and understands her and says that she has done more selfless deeds.

2. The various attitudes to organ donation
The first text “We must change the organ donation system”, 2008, by Denis Campbell focuses on the donation system in Britain, which in their opinion needs to undergo a change. The deficiency of organs makes it arduous to save the lives of 9,600 Britons, which also means that three people die every day. He recommends the ‘presumed consent’ system, which is already seen in many European countries, instead of the ‘opt out’ system, where people can choose whether they want or don’t want to donate their organs. Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer in England, is one of the many people, who think that it is necessary to change the current system. He wants the ‘presumed consent’, where ill people can take use of organs from a dead person unless they don’t give permission. The text also mentions Natalie Sillince who is among the many p...

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...w citizens but customers if it were a business. Another bad thing by doing this is that the less moneyed families, students, single parents etc. would donate their organs just because of the money. That said, it also has benefits, e.g. more people would probably employ it and donate their organs, which will save lives. Organs don’t necessarily have to be sold and bought, but it could be an opportunity to save other people’s lives. Some people namely think that it is a ‘gift of life’ where it can provide a longer lifespan for those who receive the organ. Another great thing by donating organs after death or while living is that the organ is in someone else, meaning a small piece of you continues to survive in them, even if you are not physically alive any more. In this way your loved ones can provide an immense of comfort.

“Heaven doesn’t need the organ earth does”.

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