Wednesday, 16 September 2009
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Should We Legalize Organ Trafficking?
In 2005, Nick Rosen sold his kidney for $20,000. What he did was illegal, but is it wrong?
Organs should be a hot commodity. Hundreds of thousands of people are on a waiting list for organs and 17 people die each day simply waiting their turn. None of us can sell an essential organ like a heart, but some systems of the body allow for this. We can live with 1 kidney or 1 lung. We can live with a partial liver. But not without cost to our own bodily function. With one lung, you're not going to be able to do strenuous exercise and with one kidney, you'll be more likely to have high blood pressure. Even the operation is not without risks - you can die on the operating table.
On my drivers license, I am a declared organ donor. So, if I die in a wreck or some other incident, my organs will be harvested to grant someone else life. I can donate my kidney freely anytime I want to for someone who might need it, but it suddenly becomes a crime to sell it? Is it so wrong to demand compensation for an organ?
None of us have a right to another persons organs. But if I have what you need and do not wish to suffer the consequences and risks of donation without compensation and you have the means to pay me, should I not be compensated? I think this is fair and just. If you ask me, there is no real difference in having an organ and not donating it freely to someone about to die as much as it is to charge them for it. In both cases the end result is the same. Is it right to force people to die because it is illegal for them to buy an organ?
Would organ trafficking create an unhealthy market? Is it really even healthy to be living with only one of a pair of organs (one lung instead of two, one kidney instead of two, etc..)?
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About the Author
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- From: SwearNoAllegiance@xanga
- Name: Mark
- About Me: These are the ramblings of an Anti-Federalist, reforming indivdualist, who is interested in the things of God, Politics, Philosophy, History, and Nerdcraft.
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Comments (28)
I think it should be legal. But then there would probably be people selling their organs just to buy new cars or other things of the sort... And they would be doing it more for themselfs than actually doing it to help the recipiant of the organ.
but that would impead the needy from getting organs. Then organ transplants would be jus a thin for the rich.
This is HORRIBLE. It is definitely wrong to sell organs. It allows for people to jack up prices because organs are in such demand. People die while waiting for organs because not enough people want to donate. The situation will worsen if people are allowed to sell organs because then patients will not be able to afford organs.
@Faith14@xanga - Agreed
It would definitely create an unhealthy market. It'll force desperate people to make the decision to sell their organs without fully thinking about the consequences. I didn't know there was a risk to living with only one kidney. There would have to be some kind of oversight over the whole business because not everybody will have suitable organs for donations. Then I could easily see corruption becoming a factor because of the high price of organs.
We're born with pairs of organs, so for optimal health, I think we should hang onto them. Although, I do know people who have only one kidney and they're healthy.
disgusting. no.
If 17 people die each day waitinf ro free organs, imagine how many will die because they can't afford your $50, 000 lung?
I don't think you really thought this through. Whose paying for it?
You say you'd like to be compensated for your organ, but if you needed one, would you be able to pay for it?
This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard of.
In Australia all bodily donations are done altruistically, you cannot accept money or gifts for blood, plasma, sperm or anything of that nature, and thats the way it should be. Giving back without expecting something in return.
I think it should be legal. However, people need to be aware of the physical consequences after wards. I'm one of those people who is in desperate need of money, I ave actually considered selling an organ of mine, however, found out it was illegal. So, I'm doing to donate my eggs instead.
There should also be some psychological evaluation as well, but overall, I think it's be a great idea instead of just waiting someone to die until their organs are given to someone who needs it. If this were legal, people who are in dire need of a new organ can have better access to them, especially if those selling them are being compensated for it.
It's a good idea, but it will have repercussions if not handled carefully.
- Kunoichi
No, it may cause more crimes (little kids getting kidnapped and harvested or many other people already.
@LouLouLouie@xanga - sometimes the people who donate blood, sperm, plasma need the money to eat, pay (part) of rent, or other various items needed. My best friend donates plasma while in school and her campus is far away from home and she uses it as source of cash to help her pay for various things she needs her meds, food, and some other things for her classes.
Ideally I would like a few grand if I ever donated an organ, but I would probably be dead so I wouldn't benefit so they may as well just take it.
I live in the UK we have an endless pot of money here if the government offered me £2000 to go on the organ donation list I would sign up today, they don't so I am just waiting for the day it does happen, because it will happen, and then I will sign up.
I am too young to donate my organs, I carry organ donation cards in case I get in an accident, but I did go the extra mile and send inquires to the local hospital about organ donation of i.e. kidney, lung & liver.
I got the response that unless it was a family member or a close friend that needed them I wasn't allowed to donate. No 'random' donations were acceptable.
I think it should be allowed to donate randomly but selling organs is not fair because the rich can just buy their organs regardless on how severe their condition is compared to others on the waiting list for organs. It would be nice if more people were open to donating organs.
In the mean time, there is an already-legal way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- allocate donated organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die. UNOS, which manages the national organ allocation system, has the power to make this simple policy change. No legislative action is required.
Americans who want to donate their organs to other registered organ donors don't have to wait for UNOS to act. They can join LifeSharers, a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. Non-donors should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.
NONO.I dunno bout the western world but heard of lots of scary stories in China bout hw ppl r knocked out(if not killed tht "fortunately") and find themselves hv their organs taken off and stuff....
Heh,an organ donor card is like a free pass to let you die so the hospital can make money off of giving the organs to people who need them. Insurance, or out of pocket costs will give doctors great returns for letting one person die and passing on a few organs to others (even if not compatible).
Almost every doctor I have ever known is crooked.
I believe there should be a regulated option for people who are denied from donation - in instances where the person is an alcoholic and needs a new liver, senior citizens, anyone at a higher risk for rejection or shorter life span. Those people frequently get denied organ transplants.
If they can find a suitable match from a living person and can agree on compensation, then I have no problem with it. Friends and family are their first options, but they may not be willing or may not be a match - hell, go on Craigslist or whatever to find someone, or have a living donor list available like the current organ registry. These people would be forced to undergo the same screening as family/friends do for transplants, and if they agree, then go for it.
Yes, some people would willingly risk their lives for money...but for some people, that may be their only choice.
@El_Diablo_Loco@xanga - Most hospitals won't know that you're an organ donor until after you're dead, and even then any living family will have the final say. I agree that many doctors are crooked, but the organ thing is such a common misconception.
i'm sure there are people that would turn to killing to sell someones organs!
@Faith14@xanga - more organs will be on the market stupid.
just because people are now selling their organs does not mean that people who donate will stop.
the total number of organs on the market will go UP.
I'm 14 and I understand that.
@ahsolovley@xanga - Why is that bad? the dieing man still gets to live
@LouLouLouie@xanga - why do you think this way?
people will still donate even if others are selling and that means that there will be more organs out there. what would you rather have, the option of buying a lung for $50.000 or no lung being there for you. you could take out a loan to pay for the one. or just sit and hope for someone to give you one with no say in the matter yourself in the other. i wish you people would think this through before you talk.
@thecapitalist - um...ok? oh wow you're 14 and you understand that more organs will be sold. YEAH RIGHT. It still won't be enough for all of the people who need transplants and it still doesn't mean that the price won't skyrocket. If we put a price on human organs, do you really think that it would be something affordable? Not only that, it would lead to a bunch of unethical problems. Why don't you experience more of the world before you talk to me.
@thecapitalist - Why do I think people should donate altruistically? Seriously? Because I'm a horrible, horrible person. Curse me for thinking that the generous and the dead should want to help their fellow man without expecting monetary reward.
There won't be any more organs on the market FYI. Most organs require you to be dead to donate, so unless heaps more people start dying to bring home the bacon, yeah the amount of organs won't increase that much.
Wow your 14 year old infinite wisdom has surpassed us all! Why didn't we just think of taking out loans to buy organs? Because so many financial institutions give out large loans to sick people right? Because of course, while you've been so ill you need a new organ you've still been able to work and not already be in debt, and then your bank will see that you're such a great worker and you'll definitely be around to pay it back so they'll be more than willing to lend you $50,000.
OR we could sit around and wait for someone to donate one. Well golly, I wonder why more people dying of heart failure haven't thought of this? Oh wait, because that’s exactly what you do now. Except that if people can sell their organs there will be many FEWER free ones for those of us not able to buy a couple more decades of life.
I wish you would think this through before you start refuting every comment with arguments that follow logic not recognised or applicable to real life.
Thanks
@whitetrashpoet@xanga - This is a good idea. Free for most, and those who would otherwise be denied to pay.
[I don't want to open up a whole 'nother can of worme but....]
On the topic of those denied organ donations, do you think that people who require transplants due to obesity related illnesses should be denied? And I mean in cases where the person is obese due to overeating/lack of exercise, not a primary illness that causes almost unavoidable weigth gain?
Just lately the discrepancies between between those who smoke or drink themselves into and early grave and those who use fatty foods has been brought up and it's got me thinking.
@Faith14@xanga - so you think I have not experienced the world enough to talk to you? I have. my father died from lung cancer 4 years ago. he would have lived if he had a new lung and I would still have a dad. Do you think anyone who has been through that can say to them self "oh well we couldn't afford it at the time" we would have found a way to pay for it even if it meant I couldn't go to collage. even if the price "skyrockets" we would still have him, even if we were not as rich as some others. Do you think that I would rather have some fancy house more than my dad? I think that we should legalize the selling of human organs because it will save lives. more people will put an organ up for a transplant if they are getting payed for it and that organ will go to someone because someone will have the money to pay for it. the organ might go to someone who is rich and can afford it but someones life will be saved with that organ. If you keep it the way it is now then that organ wont go out there and wont save a life.
@LouLouLouie@xanga - ok you are saying that to donate/sell most organs you must be dead correct?
however you recognize that for some you do not (lung,liver,kidney,ext) so we can infer that for the organs you do not have to be dead to donate there will be a rise in the supply. because the people who will donate are mostly family they will still donate(nobody would charge their brother for a kidney that would save his life). over all, more organs. This means that more lives will be saved because every organ is going to be used. nobody will throw away an organ because they cant sell it for the price they wanted to get. they will take what they can get so long as they make money. thus we can see that if you can sell organs more will be out there, and the more that are out there, the more people will live.