NYT: "we must finally acknowledge that altruism isn’t enough"

"THE national transplant list just passed a morbid milestone: More than 100,000 people now wait for kidneys.

We are at this point largely because even though demand is growing, donations from living and deceased donors have remained flat, between 16,500 and 17,000 annually, for the past decade. Between now and this time tomorrow, 14 people will die, many after languishing on dialysis for 5 to 10 years, while their names slowly crawled up the queue.

The problem lies in the requirement that all organs be given altruistically... Federal law is widely interpreted as forbidding donors to receive anything of tangible value in return for their lifesaving deeds. (read more)

"Donations Pour In, Funds Launched for Blind Man Who Got Hit by Subway to Keep Dog Who Saved His Life"

"When the news broke that Cecil Williams would not be able to keep his dog Orlando, funds were launched and donations poured in so Williams could keep his life saving pet. Williams, who is blind, fell onto the subway tracks earlier this week and his seeing-eye dog Orlando followed him, waking him up in time for both to duck beneath the train and escape serious injury."

"Orlando is an 11 year old black lab who is set to retire in January of 2014. Williams' insurance will not cover a non-service dog so Williams would be forced to part with his heroic companion. But a man in New Jersey has stepped forward to help Williams. Andrew Piera has volunteered to pay for Orlando's expenses for the rest of the dog's life."

Breitbart, Daily News