Continuing our weekly look at obscure Texas laws (in no particular order), here is one that gives a whole new meaning to the phase "Give me a hand."
Section 48.02 - Prohibition of the Purchase and Sale of Human Organs
Under this law, it is a Class A mismedeanor if a person "knowingly or intentionally offers to buy, offers to sell, acquires, receives, sells, or otherwise transfers any human organ."
Of course, there are exceptions for blood and plasma, and more exceptions for medical transplants. I cannot imagine that this law is charged very often, but it would not be on the books if it hadn't been a problem at some point in time. Perhaps the lawmakers were concerned with the urban legend in which the person wakes up in the bathtub of ice and both kidneys missing.
