Story perspectives

Harvesting Organs from Living Euthanasia Patients Sparks Outcry

7/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

“Death by Organ Donation” proposal urges surgeons to remove organs from euthanasia patients while alive.
Bioethicist Dr. Robert Truog outlined the idea in a NEJM paper and said it is illegal as U.S. law requires death before organ removal.
Ruth Faden said the concept could be ethically justified with informed-consent safeguards.
Lainie Friedman Ross called the practice murder and warned it could erode trust in organ donation and assisted-suicide systems.

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Story summary

“Death by Organ Donation” proposal urges surgeons to remove organs from euthanasia patients while alive.
Bioethicist Dr. Robert Truog outlined the idea in a NEJM paper and said it is illegal as U.S. law requires death before organ removal.
Ruth Faden said the concept could be ethically justified with informed-consent safeguards.
Lainie Friedman Ross called the practice murder and warned it could erode trust in organ donation and assisted-suicide systems.