New study reveals that fewer New Yorkers are enrolled in organ donation programs when compared to the national average.

The study conducted by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield reveals that 22 percent of New York adults are signed up as organ donors, when compared to 48 percent nationally. The death of organ recipients in the state has another alarming twist per the study, as 539 New Yorkers are said to have died because they were awaiting a transplant, whereas some individuals became ill and ineligible.

New York has increased efforts and is taking measured steps that will encourage individuals to come forward. However, it raises the question "should organ donation be free or should donors be compensated in a bid to address their shortage?"

Presently, nearly 8,667 and 1,352 people in New York are listed for a kidney and liver donation, respectively. Alarmingly, over 1,500 of these individuals have been on the waiting list for over five years.

While many are of the opinion that a compensation - either monetary or some benefit - be given to organ donors to meet the growing demand for organs (and tempt people to come forward), there are those who are against the notion.

"I don't think there should be some kind of pay for a kidney," says Jessica Kastler, who will be donating her kidney to a stranger. "That's kind of almost like paying for a kid - I don't think that's right."

In 1984, the Congress passed the National Organ Transplant Act which made sale of human organs illegal. While the act debars one from paying for the purchase of an organ; however, it does not prohibit the payment for costs that are incurred owing to organ transplants i.e. the transportation of the donor or reimbursement of lost wages as a result.

However, not all is lost as in 2012; Gov. Andre Cuomo signed "Lauren's Law" (named after Lauren Shields who received a heart transplant) which looked to increase the pool of probable donors in the state. Per the law, a New Yorker needs to fill out the organ-donor questionnaire on a driver's license form for their application to get processed.

Medically eligible individuals can become organ donors via the state Department of Health or Department of Motor Vehicles websites. For additional information on organ donation head to www.organdonor.gov.

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