The admirable Virginia Postrel writes about how she became a kidney donor:

Usually when someone is seriously ill, all you can do is lend moral support and maybe cook some meals or run a few errands. Nothing you do will make that person well. But if you donate a kidney, you can (with the help of a team of medical specialists) cure her. Who wouldn’t want to do it? I had no idea what a strange thought that was.

Nor did I sort through my motivations. I’ve spent a good bit of my life trying to save the world, mostly by working to beat back bad government policies, including some that would have stifled medical research. But even when your side wins, the victory is incremental and rarely permanent. And people of goodwill dedicated to the same good cause can be awfully contentious about how to achieve their goals.

In this case, there was something reassuring about the idea that the benefit wouldn’t depend at all on my talents, persuasiveness, or intellect. It would be simple. All I had to do was show up. In middle age, I’ve realized that I can’t save the world. But maybe I could save Sally. Someone had to.

The phrase gets overused, but read the whole thing. I just hope that we aren't far from the day that friends won't have to make such sacrifices in order for friends to live.

And here's the story from the recipient's side:

In polls, only 30 percent to 40 percent of Americans say they have designated themselves as donors on their driver's licenses or on state-run donor registries. As for the remainder, the decision to donate will fall to their families who are as likely as not to deny the hospital's request. In any event, only a small number of bodies of the recently deceased, perhaps 13,000 a year, possess organs healthy enough for transplanting.

The verdict is in: relying solely on altruism is not enough. Charities rely on volunteers to help carry out their good works but they also need paid staff. If we really want to increase the supply of organs, we need to try incentives — financial and otherwise.

I remember when I turned 16 and had to choose on my license whether or not to become an organ donor. I couldn't do it-I was so afraid that they would take my organs before I was dead. But, now that I'm over that fea-I agree-everyone should become an organ donor! I think having some sort of incentive would definitely help. Maybe a break on your car's registration or something from the DMV.

Perhaps we should just let people who have sworn to donate their organs get in line in front of everyone else when they eventually need organs,

When I signed my organ doner card, I was careful to let my wife know that "I only have eyes for you".

I signed the organ donor card years ago and told my family - in a deliberately crude but memorable way - my wishes on the matter. I told them, "When I die, strip me for parts and burn the rest."

I haven't signed my card or quite made up my decision. My wife, being an RN, has. However, I do give blood regularly, and I think that issue is somewhat similar.

I use to feel guilty about accepting T-Shirts and stuff at blood drives. I was giving blood because people needed it more than I did at the time. However, a lot of money is made on selling blood, while the T-Shirts are cheap. I wouldn't want to change that.

What I would want to change is the knowledge passed along to blood donors. In many cases, those giving blood are allowed to receive blood for free, when they need it. This is not well explained, unless your giving blood for a specific person. Of course, your not receiving your own blood, but in my mind, I still think it is a great incentive when you know that your act of kindness may well be repaid when you need it.

How about just treating organs as property and letting the market take the strain?

If you can do this do it. I used to be a listed donor. But thanks to illness they won't touch me with a ten foot scalpel now.

If the donor must be purely altruistic in their offering, then the doctors should be as well.

this idea that it is immoral to sell kidneys, or liver portions while living is evil, then why do the doctors drive lexus' mercede's and BMW's while the donor is driving a 95 cavalier with a bad water pump?

I own my kidney a LOT more than the doctor owns his skill, most anyone can learn a skill, but I'm the only one with my kidney.

If I die, I can sell my body for a pittance, but I can't sell my organ rights so that my family might prosper in the same way that the doctors family prospers from his inflated wages?

I said it before. Mickey Mantle was the BEST recipient of a liver? it had NOTHING to do with money? it had NOTHING to do with celebrity fame or acclaim? Mickey a life long drunk who destroyed his own liver was the BEST recipient of that transplant?

If my donation is going to be wasted, I would much rather it be wasted on someone who will pay for my kids and nephews education rather than on some guilt merchant doctors mercedes.

What a great woman Virginia is, it must be said. That is friendship beyond price.