And Dr. Gaston says donation laws often don't result in the changes you'd expect. In all the years since the Wisconsin law allowing tax deductions for living donations has been in effect, he notes, only five or six people have ever claimed a deduction.

Even Spain, which was thought to have the highest per capita donations per year, in part because of presumed consent laws that assume people want to donate their organs at death unless they "opt out," has donation rates similar to the rest of Europe, Dr. Gaston says.

For the Israeli law, at least, doctors will have a chance to see if their skepticism is confirmed in January 2012, when the project's effects will go under review.

"If undesirable consequences emerge, such as no increase in organ donation, or an increase in candidates' mortality rates, then policy and legal adjustments will be necessary," Dr. Lavee concludes.

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