How Much is Your Kidney Worth?

The South Carolina legislature is on its way to setting a value for a kidney — the shortening of a prison sentence by 180 days.

See Seanna Adcox, South Carolina lawmakers consider cutting prison time for inmates who donate organs, AP, March 8, 2007:

The proposal approved by the Senate Corrections and Penology Subcommittee would set up a volunteer donor program in prisons to teach inmates about the need for donors. But lawmakers want legal advice before acting on a bill that would shave up to 180 days off a prison sentence for inmates who donate.

South Carolina advocates for organ donations said the incentive policy would be the first of its kind in the nation.

Federal law makes it illegal to give organ donors “valuable consideration.” Lawmakers want to know whether the term could apply to time off of prison sentences.

Personally, I wonder if 180 days is a sufficient incentive.  Cutting off five years or ten years might provide much better donation motivation!  Also, I wonder if someone has already donated a kidney, whether they could receive a “credit” for a future criminal sentence (just kidding).