The scandal over storing body parts and organs has had one highly unfortunate effect since it was revealed last week.

It has dried up the supply of organs to be used in life-saving transplants from a steady flow to a trickle.

As our feature today reveals, this could put the lives of many people in jeopardy if the shortage continues.

There are thousands of people walking around today leading normal lives who would be extremely ill or even dead if they had not received kidney transplants.

Heart transplants have become almost routine since the early, experimental operations more than 30 years ago.

It's hard enough to get a supply of hearts, kidneys and other vital organs which can save lives as the families of those who have died are often too distraught to think their nearest and dearest could help save other lives.

Now it's becoming almost impossible if those same relatives are also burdened by the erroneous thought that the organs will be stored rather than put to proper use.

The revelations last week were sad and shocking. But they should not prevent many people from making sure that once their own lives have run their course, some of their organs can be used to bring new life and hope to others who are sick and dying.