BOSTON — A Massachusetts legislator said he's going to change a proposed bill that would have given state inmates reduced sentences if they signed up to donate an organ, following an outcry from several groups.
Last month, Democratic Rep. Carlos Gonzalez co-introduced a bill that would establish an individual bone marrow and organ donation program for Massachusetts inmates. As part of the originally proposed program, eligible inmates would be able to reduce their sentences by as little as 60 days to as much as a year"on the condition that the incarcerated individual has donated bone marrow or organs.
"There is substantial concern that our system is free of coercion or personal gain," she said."That public trust in the system has to be based on people making a free and fair choice." "It is crucial to respect prisoners’ human dignity and agency by respecting their choice to donate bone marrow or an organ," Gonzales said."No law currently prevents incarcerated individuals from being donors. Inmates should have the same basic rights every citizen has in Massachusetts."
"It's not recognizing the power dynamics and how desperate people are to be reunited with their loved ones," she said of that clause.
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