Poll: Organ Donors Should Get Compensation

A majority of Americans believe live organ donors should be given compensation like healthcare credits for their donation, and it should come from health insurance companies, according to the Thomson Reuters-NPR Health Poll.

Thomson Reuters and NPR conduct a monthly poll to gauge attitudes and opinions on a wide range of health issues.

The survey asked respondents their opinions on potential compensation for organ donation.

It found that 60 percent of Americans are in favor of providing benefits in the form of healthcare credits to organ donors. 46.3 percent said tax credits would be an appropriate reimbursement.

When asked to put a dollar amount on what donors should be allowed to collect, 37 percent said less than $10,000. 27 percent said a range in between $10,000 and $24,999. Seven percent said there should be no monetary compensation.

Despite being steeped in controversy because of a perceived parallel between compensation for donation and buying organs, 60 percent of respondents indicated a distinction between the two; a rate that tended to decrease with increasing age.