by Pete du Pont

About the author: Formerly the governor of Delaware, Pete du Pont is the policy chairman for the National Center for Policy Analysis, a public policy research institute headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

There are currently about 45,000 people waiting for a human organ transplant. About 3,000 of them will die on that waiting list because a suitable transplant organ will not become available in time.

The short supply of organs has recently led to some overt attempts to ration them in a way that would be more beneficial to society. For example, the United Network for Organ Sharing has altered its guidelines for those needing a liver transplant so that those with acute liver problems get priority. Those with a chronic liver condition like hepatitis or cirrhosis (which could be the result of alcohol...