Which of the following is cited as an argument in favor of presumed consent?

• A. Increases the accuracy of organ matching.
• B. Reduces administrative costs.
• C. Increases the availability of organs.
• D. Eliminates the need for family involvement.

Answer: (C)

Presumed consent policies set a default that individuals are willing to donate unless they have opted out. The strongest argument for this approach is that it expands the potential donor pool, so more organs become available for transplantation. By treating non-donation as the default, fewer cases are lost simply because explicit consent wasn’t obtained in the moment of death, even though families may still be consulted or able to object in many systems. This is different from improving how well organs match, which depends on medical compatibility, not the consent framework. It also doesn’t guarantee lower administrative costs, as implementing and maintaining opt-out systems can add new duties and public education efforts. And while families often continue to play a role in the donation decision, presumed consent does not eliminate their involvement in practice.