The making of organ donor gifts when one's own body no longer needs the tissue seems a reasonable way in which one may make a gift that projects into the future.

Still, tissue shortages exist everywhere. Even England, where understanding of the intersection of health needs and distributive justice is generally viewed as more advanced than in the United States, suffers from a tissue shortage. We can only assume that the waiting lists for organs will grow unless our response to organ need changes dramatically. since our developing medical technologies will increasingly provide us with methods lor successful transplantation.

Common law has prevented individuals in the past from providing for the disposition of their own bodies. Passage of the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act in the 50 states and promulgation of similar measures throughout Canada, however has overcome that tradition. This Act permits persons to donate organs with the gift becoming effective upon death. Support for the Act was strong, and the bill was enacted state by state with unprecedented swiftness. Yet, organs are still not readily available.