Ronald Phillips: Akron child killer wants to donate his organs after execution

[HairOfTheDog]

So?

Why shouldn't he be allowed? He's paying for his crime he's going to be executed. Do you think his mother and sister should be punished as well?

I don't understand how the hell there can be any debate about this?

I don't object to anyone donating organs either; convicted murderers or otherwise.

I think the only debatable part of this story was the motive and feasibility of Phillips' request.

Most likely, IMO, he was just trying to delay his execution or create a better image for himself. He's had decades to decide he wanted to donate his organs, but chose to make the request after his other appeals ran out and just before his scheduled execution for repeatedly raping then killing a 3-year-old.

Anyway, his request was denied for the reasons cited below (but still possible his tissue can be donated privately when his body is turned over to his family).

Snip:
The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction denied Phillips request for pre-execution donation, citing the late hour in which the request was made, just 48 hours before his scheduled execution. They also denied post-execution donation.

Stephen Gray, an attorney for the DRC, wrote, "Although DRC recognizes that organ donation is a laudable goal, DRC is not equipped to facilitate organ donation for Mr. Phillips. DRC respectfully declines your request for post-execution organ donation. DRC considers organ donation to be a private matter between Mr. Phillips, his family and his attorneys."

Gray's letter also says that after Phillips' death Thursday, his body will be handed over to his family and they "may take whatever action they wish with the physical body, including pursuing organ donation."

Anne Paschke, a representative for the United Network for Organ Sharing, a organization that facilitates organ matching throughout the nation, told HLN that Phillips will not be able to donate his vital organs, but may be able to donate tissue or his eyes.

"In order to be an organ donor after your heart stops beating you have to be medically managed in a hospital. Usually in those cases someone has been on life support," said Paschke. "When someone is brain dead and going to be a donor they keep them on a ventilator so the oxygenated blood keeps flowing through the organs so they remain viable for transplantation."

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/11/12/...his-organs