Organ donation rates could be higher if tax credits were offered to family members, a philosopher and ethicist proposes.

Across Canada, more than 4,000 Canadians are waiting for a transplant.

International studies suggest half of potentially available organs go to waste because the family refuses to consent or can't be reached in time, said Jurgen De Wispelaere, a visiting fellow with the University of Montreal's Centre for Ethics Research.

At the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences taking place this week at Montreal's Concordia University, De Wispelaere presented his proposals to encourage organ donations.

The first idea is turning to a second consenter — a spouse, next-of-kin or family friend — who would openly discuss the idea at a less emotional time rather than when the family is grieving and medical staff may be reluctant to approach them.

The potential donor would indicate the advocate on a registry, and the advocate would vouch for donor's wishes.

"The donor would have a living advocate who could say, 'Yes, we had a discussion about this, and I can assure you that the person really wanted to go ahead,'" De Wispelaere said in a release.

"We think this reduces the stress on the family."

The second part of the idea is to offer a government tax credit to the second consenter after the donor's death, whether the organs are used for transplant or not.

The tax credit aims to provide an incentive for people to become second consenters who don't change their minds when the potential donor dies.

The credit would be a small token of appreciation for contributing to society. No organs would be sold, De Wispelaere stressed.