LifeSharers: A Way Around Soviet-Style Rationing of Human Organs for Transplant

When it comes to saving your life or someone else’s wouldn’t you like to avoid the busybody elitist bureaucrats who think they know best?
If so, the voluntary organization LifeSharers is probably for you. Here is the latest report from LifeSharers:
LifeSharers is an innovative approach to increasing the number of registered organ donors in the United States. Members agree to donate their organs when they die. They also agree to offer their organs first to other members, if any member is a suitable match, before making them available to the general public.
LifeSharers gives people a chance to save their own life by agreeing to donate their organs when they die.
LifeSharers is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization staffed by unpaid volunteers. Please check out our web site at www.lifesharers.org.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
As of February 28th, LifeSharers has 3,927 members. This represents a 34% increase over last December’s total of 2,931 members. We have members in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
As of February 28th, 3,214 of our members have qualified for preferred access to the organs of fellow members. Members are eligible for preferred access 180 days after joining LifeSharers.
PRESS COVERAGE OF LIFESHARERS
St. Paul Asian-American Press
http://www.aapress.com/Archive/2006/webfeb17/h-organs.htm
WTNH New Haven TV Channel 8
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=4498034
Longmont Daily Times-Call
http://www.longmontfyi.com/Health-Story.asp?id=6003
COMMENTARY
A decision to inspire us all
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/opinion/article/0,1375,VCS_125_4501227,00.html
New approaches needed to secure organ donations
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060227/COLUMNIST29/602250331/-1/NEWS33
OTHER NEWS
New heart alternative expanding the transplant field
http://www.wowt.com/news/features/2/2352651.html
Livers from non-heart beating donors would boost organ supply
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060218114144.htm
Scientists want to ‘print’ organs rather than wait for them to be donated
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=1603783&page=1
2005 sees record number of organ, tissue donations in Illinois and Northwest Indiana
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=60823
Organ transplants increased 10% last year in Southern California
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060207/latu131.html
What to do about the diabetes epidemic
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/2/prweb340394.htm
FREE LIFESHARERS BUMPER STICKERS
If you’d like a free LifeSharers bumper sticker for your car or truck, email us at info@lifesharers.org. Just tell us how many you want and where we should send them.
LIFESHARERS GIFT SHOP
The LifeSharers gift shop is open at http://www.cafepress.com/lifesharers. Please help spread the word about LifeSharers by buying and using products that carry our logo and message. Clothing, tote bags, mugs, buttons, magnets, and more are available. If there are other products you think we should add, please email us at info@lifesharers.org. We’ll add them if we can. When you make a purchase from the LifeSharers gift shop, $1 per item goes to support LifeSharers. The rest goes to CafePress.com.
LIFESHARERS BLOG
For breaking news about LifeSharers, please subscribe to the LifeSharers blog. You can see it here:
http://lifesharers.blogspot.com
LIFESHARERS DISCUSSION GROUP
You can communicate with other LifeSharers members by joining the LifeSharers discussion group on Yahoo! The purpose of the group is to facilitate discussion about organ donation and the LifeSharers organ donors network. You can join here:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LifeSharers_discussion/join
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT LIFESHARERS
LifeSharers is staffed by unpaid volunteers, and we rely on financial support from our members to cover our operating expenses. Please send us a financial contribution. We’ll put it to good use recruiting new members and maintaining our web site and member database. To see how easy it is to contribute to LifeSharers go here:
http://www.lifesharers.org/contribute.htm
LifeSharers is a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to LifeSharers are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.