4N6 DNA

I hope this thread is all right. I don't have a specific recent article on it, but organ peddling is common in many areas of the world, and there is a huge market for it. In the US it is not legal to sell any organs. Many of my friends feel that the ban should be lifted, that it would make so many more organs available to people and it would save many more lives. "I mean, why can't I sell my kidney to feed my starving family, when someone with money is willing to buy it?" This was part of their rationale.

I do not feel the same. Donating your organs after you've died is a gift that is tremendous. There is no doubt that such a gift changes countless lives. But donating your organs while you are still alive is something very different and very serious. It is an irrevocable decision. In my opinion, the ban should not be lifted. Legalizing the exchange of organs for money is too easily tempting. I think that too many people would make rash and personal decisions or would exploit the weak in their times of desperation.

I am very interested to know what you guys thing

Indian Summer

If we're talking about selling organs that are routinely transplanted while living, aren't we really just talking about a kidney, and sometimes part of a liver?

Ech, I don't know. I think there's a lot of people who really need a kidney, and we only need one to survive, but at the same time, I think that would create a very unfair advantage for the wealthy over the poor recipients. But at the same time, it would probably also shorten the donor lists since more rich people would probably buy instead of wait... I don't know, I really don't. It's a complicated issue.

4N6 DNA

Thank you for replying.

Yes but also other organs. Lets say a father struggles to support his 2 children. One day he robs a bank and accidentally kills someone. He is sent to death row. Should he be able to sell his organs to someone who is willing to pay, for money to give to his two kids, who would die without him to support them?

For sake of argument, what if this sort of system were developed (this is something I found off the net that someone proposed):

"I say we auction off 10% of the organs a year to the highest bidders, then take this money and pay for the rest of the organs. Believe me, a wealthy individual would easily pay $5 million to get to the top of the list for a kidney. We could then take this $5 million and buy 500 kidneys that would normally not be in the market without compensation and everyone is better off. Yes, the rich can buy their way in, but in the process, they end up paying for another 500 kidneys on top of it. Everyone wins this way."

Do you think this sort of system would be successful? Would it solve the issue that you are worried about?

I know that this suggestion goes against my stand on the issue, but it's a legitimate argument, and I would love to hear thoughts

Nonna

Wow I never thought of this and didn't know it was legal anywhere honestly.


I guess I can see both side of it.




However ICA with this. I think it would get out of hand. Not to mention how dangerous it is.




So do you mean sell your vital organs that you need to survive? Because that is pretty much suicide. I don't know how I feel about that.


It reminds me of the Dr. Kevorkian issue. I mean I know it's not exactly the same thing.

4N6 DNA

No, say his kidney. Some rich parent's son needs one and he is willing to pay for it.

migamoo

I don't think anyone here is talking about selling their heart or lung just so they can die. No one with half a conscience would do that.

I don't know how I feel about this. Yes, I'm a registered organ donor, but I the actual process of selling an organ? Something just seems off about that to me.

Papri

Not only would it create a rift between poor people who need organs and the wealthy who can pay for it, but what about the increased medical costs? The people who are donating organs are going to need extra medical attention and surely that will put a strain on resources?

Usually families donate organs, free of charge - bringing money into it makes the whole thing a bit dirty.

sunnykerr

Yeah, I can see both sides of this issue, but I think there's already way too much abuse of people's despair in the world to create this new low.

4N6 DNA

Thanks for your great replies guys! I have been working forever on an indepth research on this and would love to hear your thoughts and include the concerns in my paper.

Hypothetically, what if you are a mother of 3 children and in jail on death row. Should you be allowed to sell your organ to someone who really needs it and have the money maybe go to your kids?

Do you think that the abuse might be less, due to the legalization of it? Would it cut down on the black market for it?

Good point, did not think of this. What about a situation like this:

You can only sell your organs to a hospital. Then the hospitals auction off 10% of the organs a year to the highest bidders, then take this money and pay for the rest of the organs and the medical bills. Do you think the rich will be willing to pay to get to the top of the list?

sunnykerr

That's impossible to tell, because that's assuming that it would be legalized across the entire globe at the same time, or more or less at the same time. And that's just not likely to happen.

But, even assuming it does, I still think that it's a system preying on the poor and desperate. A wealthier person would have no "need" to sell their organs. Heck, the fact that there would now be a legalized "free flow" of organs might drive actual organ donation down, since people could assume that someone out there must be available.

Of course, all of this is supposition.

In theory, it would eliminate the need for a black market. But that's assuming the black market it limited to "expandable" organs such as kidneys. I don't want to get gross or maudlin or anything too disturbing, but in a world like ours, I have a sneaky suspicious that some organ donation isn't always on the up-and-up, you know? Like, maybe, some people would see organs as a way to make a quick buck but, instead of selling their own, they'd "collect" from others, you know? And, maybe, they wouldn't be too bothered if it meant murdering the person.

And I know that some societies see suicide as a potentially honourable way of allieving shame and despair for one's family. And I'm not about to judge that. But it seems to me that legalizing organ donation might be yet another way to shorten the time span between misery and death.

It's not that I mean to tell people their business. I fully bulieve in every individual's right to choose their destinity for themselves. But I do think that legalizing paid organ donation creates a veritable plethora of profound ethical quandries.

Sharon den Adel

I say no.

A news program recently reported that an Australian woman had travelled overseas (can't remember the name of the country) and bought a kidney from a young man. He was paid about $50,000, if I remember correctly. People in these countries are very poor, and often sell their organs to help feed their children, buy clothes and receive an education.
Offering money for an organ is emotional blackmail. You know you can't feed your children, but here is someone offering thousands of dollars if you give them your kidney.

What happens if the surgery fails? What happens when the money runs out?

Our waiting lists are getting longer, and yes, more people are dying. But what we need are changes. We could consider compulsary organ donation. We could consider signing everyone up as an organ donor when they reach legal age, then give them the opportunity to back out of this contract. Likely, many people would be on the donor list than are now.

Buying and/or selling organs is simply not right.

sunnykerr

Well said.

What we need is a societal change, not a legal one.

We all need to realize the need for organ donation and sign our donor cards and (this is the important part) tell our loved ones of our desire to donate should the worse happen to us.

Walloo <New&Improved>

Well that would be a sad thing to come to. If that situation came wouldn't one expect the institutions to take care of the children? Why do we pay taxes and elect presidents and such? And who would be sent to death row for an accidental murder? But anyway, there's already such a gap between rich and poor in the health care category, would it be wise to enlarge this gap to a point of no return? It means that only rich people would be allowed to live their vices as they wished, alcohol, drugs etc... they wouldn't care since once their organs would be destroyed they could just buy a new one. And even though you can live with only one kidney it's not a mystery as to why you have two. Life with just one kidney requires a certain way of life that most really poor ones wouldn't follow and probably die prematurely. So no, no selling your organs.

Sgt. Angle

If it was legal, I'm sure there would be a lot of organ stealing going on in America. People would drug/knock out/kill people and cut their organs out and then sell them. That wouldn't be a good thing because your organs are yours. No one has the right to steal them or kill you because they want your organs.

Jerry D

I don't think that people should be allowed to sell their organs under any circumstance.