To:

The United States Congress

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the United States Congress to amend federal law governing Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) to require that these organizations contribute toward funeral expenses for organ donors, up to a dollar amount reasonably tied to the value of organs procured.

Organ donation is often described as a gift of life, and it truly is. But for the families who lose a loved one, that gift is made in the darkest moments of unimaginable grief. In those same moments, families are frequently contacted by Organ Procurement Organizations to request donation even when their loved one was not a registered donor. These conversations occur during profound emotional shock, while families are also facing sudden and overwhelming financial obligations.

More than 50% of Americans report being financially unprepared for the cost of funeral services, which can range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. For families already navigating loss, these expenses compound trauma, stress, and long-term financial hardship.

Meanwhile, the organ procurement and transplant system operates within an industry valued at over $1 billion annually. While we recognize the lifesaving importance of organ donation and the vital role OPOs play, it is both reasonable and humane to ask that these organizations share in the responsibility of supporting the families who make organ donation possible.

 
 Why This Change Is Necessary
 

Families are grieving, not negotiating. Requests for organ donation are made at moments of acute emotional vulnerability. Families should not bear financial consequences for an act of generosity made under such conditions.
Organ donation has measurable economic value. Organs recovered through OPOs enable extensive medical procedures, reimbursements, and institutional revenues across the healthcare system.
Funeral costs are unavoidable and immediate. Unlike other expenses, funerals cannot be postponed or avoided, and families are often given little time to prepare.
Fairness and dignity matter. A person’s organs carried with them their entire life should not be taken without any tangible support for those left behind.
 

Proposed Federal Action
 

We call on Congress to enact legislation requiring Organ Procurement Organizations to:

Provide funeral expense support to donor families, up to a defined dollar amount tied to the organs procured.
Ensure transparency and uniformity so all donor families are treated equitably nationwide.
Protect families from additional financial harm when they choose to say “yes” to donation during their time of loss.
 

This policy would not diminish organ donation. Instead, it would honor donors, respect families, and strengthen public trust in the organ donation system.

A Matter of Compassion and Responsibility
 

As a nation, we ask families to make one of the most selfless decisions possible in the midst of their grief. Providing meaningful funeral cost support is the least we can do in return.

This change represents compassion, fairness, and accountability—values that should be reflected in federal law.

We urge our elected leaders to act.

Signed,

Concerned Americans, Donor Families, and Supporters of Ethical Organ Donation