Gov. Mitch Daniels rejected the request of a convicted murderer [Gregory Scott
Johnson] for a reprieve of his execution so he could donate part of his liver to an ailing sister.

Daniels said he accepted the sincerity of Johnson's motivation in trying to donate part of his liver, but said medical experts had advised against it, saying Johnson's sister would be better served by accepting a new organ through the conventional process. [emphasis added]

What does that mean? If it means that his sister would have a better chance at survival because Mr. Johnson's organ type wasn't a close match, they would have said that. As best as I can figure, Governor Daniels is just a cold-hearted S.O.B. who figures that being tough on crime means spitting on people before he kills them. May God have mercy on the evil governor's soul, because he certainly doesn't deserve any.

Partly related to this, I'm sure: why is there such a legal stigma against letting people do what the want with their bodies? If you want to give an organ to a friend or relative, that's your business. If you want to sell a kidney to the highest bidder, that's your business. It's not mine, it's not some cabal of doctor's, and it certainly isn't the State's business.

Why is there such a "shortage" of organs when there are so many tens of thousands in the U.S. alone desperate for a chance at life? It's because the State keeps the supply tightly regulated and constrained by refusing to allow people to do what they want to do with their bodies. Land of liberty indeed: Iraqis are more free than Americans in important ways when it comes to their bodies.

***

Update: It turns out that, in part, the Indiana Governor's office is just really stupid. According to a letter sent to the governor from the doctor's reviewing the case, Mr. Johnson would have been an unsuitable donor. They should have said that in the first place. When you're about to kill someone, it helps to be specific as to exactly why you're doing what you're doing.

Nevertheless, the original statement from Governor Daniels reflects a callous attitude toward human life for which he'll someday have to account.