Proposed Bill in New York “Nudges” People to Organ Donation, Requires Opt-Out. Somewhere Cass Sunstein’s Ears are Burning

April 28th, 2010

An assemblyman from New York is proposing that the State automatically enroll residents in an organ donation program: Residents would have to opt-out.

To fix that, Brodsky introduced a new bill in Albany that would enroll all New Yorkers as an organ donor, unless they actually opt out of organ donation. It would be the first law of its kind in the United States.

Legal experts said if the law is passed, it will likely face challenges in court from family members or some religious groups.

This is one of the ideas Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler propose in their book Nudge. Don’t worry. The state isn’t shoving you. They are just nudging you in the right direction. It’s all about choice architecture!

H/T Dan G. on Facebook.