# MA legislators propose letting prisoners donate organs in exchange for reduced sentences **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2023, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136 "2023-02-01T03:06:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/81 "2023-02-13T18:36:46Z")
I thought your objection to this was due to overpopulation concerns? If it’s going to be so expensive that only ~1% of the population can access it, then it’s not going to be adding to overpopulation concerns. Are you just fishing for a reason to oppose the concept? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/82 "2023-02-13T19:03:29Z")
I have multiple objections. Mainly, it’s a stupid idea, IMO. Your opinion may vary. Unlimited wombs for everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/83 "2023-02-13T21:27:57Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Mainly, it’s a stupid idea, IMO. Spoken like someone who’s never had to go through pregnancy or giving birth. Not that I have; but just watching the process was enough. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/84 "2023-02-13T22:01:10Z")
Try mansplaining to my wife how hard the process of pregnancy and birth is. I’m sure that will go well for you. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/85 "2023-02-13T23:25:28Z")
I wouldn’t dream of it. My wife has said that being pregnant royally sucked and that, given the option, she’d have been all in on an artificial womb. Given this technology, women who want children without pregnancy or childbirth could do so; while women who want to experience pregnancy still could, with the added security in the knowledge that should something go wrong, this same technology could also be used to save a premature child, or one who has to be delivered before viability due to risk to the mother. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/86 "2023-02-13T23:31:44Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I have multiple objections. Do you have any that aren’t dumb? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/87 "2023-02-14T00:03:43Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Do you have any that aren’t dumb? No, just dumb ones. I’m just stupid I guess. Considering the ethics of artificial wombs is just something morons contemplate. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/88 "2023-02-14T00:28:11Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Considering the ethics of artificial wombs is just something morons contemplate. If you’d like to do so, rather than throw around content free one liners, I’m all ears. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/89 "2023-02-14T00:30:27Z")
Oh, I’m sorry. I thought this was the pit. Apparently it’s the portal to submit papers to the New England Journal of Medicine. My apologies. I’ll get to work on an article for peer review immediatly. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/90 "2023-02-14T00:36:15Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Oh, I’m sorry. I thought this was the pit If you’re consciously not putting effort into your argument because it’s just the pit, you can’t really get upset when Miller calls your arguments dumb. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/91 "2023-02-14T00:48:31Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I’m just stupid I guess. Well, at least you’re aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/92 "2023-02-14T02:09:45Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Given this technology, women who want children without pregnancy or childbirth could do so Overlooked: “who can afford so”. This will initially be a 1%er option. And at maximum market penetration, it will probably never be available for everyone, regardless of personal desires. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/93 "2023-02-14T02:18:43Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Overlooked: “who can afford so”. This will initially be a 1%er option. And at maximum market penetration, it will probably never be available for everyone, regardless of personal desires That’s true, and it’s a major flaw with our medical system. But it’s not an inherent problem with the concept of an artificial womb in and of itself. Also, one could imagine the opposite - a future where the technology is cheap and reliable enough for everyone to use, and insurance companies refuse to pay for a risky natural pregnancy, so only the rich can afford to carry their babies. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/94 "2023-02-14T04:27:48Z")
If a service is desirable, someone will put a richly profitable price on it, especially if access to it is restricted by, for instance, the structures and processes of the delivering industry. Like the medical industry. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/95 "2023-02-14T08:17:12Z")
Which means that in the United States, only rich people will have it, while in countries with modern healthcare systems (meaning much of the rest of the world), they’ll be widely available. I can live with that. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/96 "2023-02-14T08:22:34Z")
Also, your logic seems to be that unless everyone in the world can afford something, it shouldn’t exist. So no cars, no computers, no phones, no running water… ---
**Author:** ![lum\_s\_husband](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lum_s_husband/32/3698_2.png) [@lum\_s\_husband](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lum_s_husband)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/97 "2023-02-14T13:18:07Z")
Broader than that. If a thing is not affordable to everyone from the initial introduction it is worthless. This is despite future cost decreases. So everything technology related, like PCs, telephones, etc. Edit. I see I am reinforcing your point. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/98 "2023-02-14T16:57:22Z")
I said nothing about whether or not things should exist if capitalism puts them out of reach of the majority of a market. That’s in your head. I’m simply pointing out the naive expectation that this will have any relevance to a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/99 "2023-02-14T18:06:22Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > I’m simply pointing out the naive expectation that this will have any relevance to a lot of people. Which is why only the uber-wealthy own cars and fridges, fly on jets, and get chemotherapy. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2023, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136/100 "2023-02-14T18:07:24Z")
Do you enjoy attacking strawmen? Stop putting words In my mouth and own your own conclusions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ma-legislators-propose-letting-prisoners-donate-organs-in-exchange-for-reduced-sentences/979136.md?page=6)