Today, many people die while waiting for a kidney. The shortage of this organ is drastic. Some suggest ideas to make more donors available such as selling the organs for money, thus, creating an organ market. In America, these are illegal because they are said to be immoral or unjust. As a result, we are in need of organ donors. In the country of India, however, there is a different story. For years, India has been know as a "warehouse for kidneys" or a "great organ bazzar" with the world's largest center for kidney transplants with low costs and quick availability.
An article by M.H. Ahsan elaborates more on the subject in India:
KIDNEY SALE IN INDIA
For years, India has been known as a "warehouse for kidneys" or a "great organ bazaar" and has become one of the largest centers for kidney transplants in the world, offering low costs and almost immediate availability. In a country where one person out of every three lives in poverty, a huge transplant industry arose after drugs were developed in the 1970's to control the body's rejection of foreign objects. Renal transplants became common in India about thirteen years ago when the anti-rejection drug cyclosporine became available locally. The use of powerful immuno-suppressant drugs and new surgical techniques has indirectly boosted the kidney transplant activities.
The dramatic success rates of operations, India's lack of medical regulations and an atmosphere of "loose medical ethics" has also fueled the kidney transplant growth. The result has been that "supply and demand created a marriage of unequals , wedding wealthy but desperate people dependent on dialysis machines to those in India grounded down by the hopelessness of poverty"(Max). The pace of demand for kidneys hasn't kept up with the demand.
Consequently, the poor and destitute, victims of poverty, have either willingly sold their kidneys to pay for a daughter's dowry, build a small house or to feed their families or have been duped or conned into giving up their kidneys unknowingly or for very little sums of money.
Ironically, medical technology meant to advance and save human lives has been abused to such lengths, that in some cases, it has resulted in the death of innocent individuals. Most countries require living donors to be family members, or that organs must be removed from cadavers, usually accident victims. Because of the stringent rules regarding organ transplantation in other countries (specifically, that it is illegal and unethical to remove kidneys from a live donor, especially for money), and the shortage of kidneys, India has become (along with China) an "international center" for the transplantation of kidneys.
Furthermore, until recently, with the passage of the Organ Transplantation Act in 1994, there was not any legislation prohibiting the sale of organs in India. Due to the naiveness and desperation of poor, along with the fact that donating a kidney isn't particularly risky as it does not impair one's health, kidneys have become easily available in India.
Combined with low costs and the emergence of an illegal kidney black market which caters to the kidney buyers from around the world, many foreigners and the rich in India have taken advantage of and benefitted from the kidney trade. Only in January 1995, did the kidney scandal come to the surface through a series of incidents which received wide media coverage and prompted public outrage causing the Indian Congress to pass legislation banning kidney trade. On January 15, 1995, Customs officers in Delhi uncovered a "kidney tour" racket in which donors were enticed to go abroad for removal and subsequent transplant of their kidneys. Hundreds of donors were believed to have gone on such kidney tours.
To Read The Rest Of This Article:
http://www.hyderabadnews.net/articles/organsale.htm
So with that being said, the question is:
As we all know, organs in the United States are short. The government has set many rules and regulations on how these organs can be transplanted, unlike India. For instance, a donor cannot be compensated for donating their kidney, and we do not have any "organ markets." Do you think that if our government allowed the selling of organs through some type of compensation that there would be more donors? Do you think that what goes on in India is a better solution to the shortage? Do you think that this is immoral?
Tiffany:
I think that the shortage of kidneys and other organs is a very serious issue. As far as selling of the organs go, I do not think that this would be immoral that if a person is dead, and the family allows for the organs to be taken, compensation would not be wrong. It would certainly in my opinion rise the amount of people willing to put "organ donor" on their driver's license. Although, what is going on in India is not very benign to me, because there are many poverty-stricken people in India and they all jump on donating organs just to get by. Also, their government imposes very few laws on how the donation takes place. On the contrary, I think that it is great that a person in need of an organ can travel to India (although probably very expensive) and know that they will be helped.
Marilyn:
In my opinion organs for sale is a good idea. Just think about it, there are people who die every day--young and old--because there is such a shortage in organ donating. I think that if someone who is deceased have in their will or have on their drivers' licences "organ donor," why not take advantage of that? It's their wishes; no one forced them. I strongly believe if the government allowed it, there would be people everywhere donating their kidneys. It will save lives, and by the look of how the economy is declining in funds, it will also put money in poor homes.
Ana:
I think that it is not wrong for people to get some type of compensation for their organs, and I do believe that it will raise the amount of organs that are donated. Well, if you look at it people still do it illegally, so I think that it is better for them to do it safely and with the proper healthcare. I don't think that it is a better solution, but it helps the situation. I do not think that it is immoral because any one of us is allowed to do whatever they want with their lives.
Nataly:
I feel that something should be done to help those in need and in order to do so any measures must be taken. If the promise of money or other goods will persuade people to give a kidney, then I feel it should be done to save a life. Even though I feel a price should not be put on someone's life, I feel that if the government would allow a certain compensation or reward, there would no longer be a shortage. I also see why many may think it is immoral to allow this, but the truth of the matter is that we should be concerned with the current deaths due to long waiting lists and innsufficient organs or donors. I see it unnecessary for such a large number of people to die when something can be done. I fear that if something is not done there will be a loss of faith in today's medicine and medical resources as a result of this shortage.
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22 comments:
Obviously our current method of getting people the organs they need is working so well. A large number of people, adults as well as children, die every year waiting for a transplant.
The last thing a grieving family wants to do is consider having their loved-one cut open and have things removed. If there were some form of compensation for this, more families would consider it more seriously.
Then, being an organ donor would also be a positive way to know your family would be somewhat looked after when your gone.
Just because the dying person wanted to be an organ donor doesn't mean the families will respect those wishes.
I see no problem with having a kidney market out there even though there is a waiting list the wealthly still get there organs first so people should be able to trade if they want and i dont think its immoral either let people do what they want.
Organs are in high demand in our country. I think selling organs would be a good idea, but it sounds a little strange. I don't think it's immoral, just strange. If you can do something to help more people you should do it.
The more times I read this, the more I realize that this is actually a very clever topic with an underlying, controversial motif. Why do we not provide monetary compensation for organ donors? We do so for those who "donate" eggs, plasma, and sperm. Aside from plasma, is it predominantly because what is donated is needed in order to create a life?
I'm really seeing caution signs flaring up when i hear of the idea that people think it is better for other people to just sell their organs in america. Maybe i'm not grasping the concept as a whole. On one side i feel that people should do what they want with their bodies and on the other i feel that with that people would be doing it like crazy. I hate to see that people are dying waiting on a transplant. But those who want to give up their organs for money should do so with strict government procedures. I mean if people can donate their sperm, and other bodily items, then they should be able to donate their organs, just within limits.
I see nothing wrong with the selling of kidneys as long as the donor understands the risks. The donor should be compensated because they are after all giving up a percentage of their anatomy. This would provide a fair chance of recieving a organ, taking the money out of the picture as mush as it is now.
The creation of an organ market would only benifit one that could afford it. The poor would still be pushed aside. To create a organ market may impose a death sentence on the donor. There are far to many little mistakes that could made leaving the donor to die with no reprocusions. Because he/she voulantered their body. In my opinion the consideration of donating body parts should be with the family of the deceased.
I think that the government should stop trying to make so many rules for everything and let people be free. I think that we should allow a "organ market" because it would definably the way the shortage for organs in this country. India is being smart by doing what they are, we should do the same whether or not uts immoral its the own persons decision to give it away.
Rafael, awfully bold statement there. You're honestly willing to live in a country immersed in anarchy? That is, one free of rules and regulations?
I actually did my research paper on a topic much similar to this one. In China prisoners have no rights once they are in jail and basically if someone needs an organ transplant they take it from the prisoner... they have no choice. Basically they are killed mofia style, sent to a hospital, have his or her organs removed and the organ transplant occurs within 10 hours. Unethical? Depends on who you ask. I guess each country has different standards on how to retrieve organs for transplants.
I haven't been the person in the hospital, waiting for a kidney or lung in order to save my life. But I have been the family, watching my brother die while all the doctors seemed to care only about what we planned to do with his organs if he did in fact die. What was a simple coma caused by a blow to the head turned in to a race to claim his organs, instead of a race to stop the swelling in his brain and give him time to work through everything. Part of his death can be contributed to the idiocy of his mother, who didn't want to see her son become "a vegetable", even though he was in the hospital barely two days before they decided to pull his plug. More of the blame can be placed onto his doctors, who in fact seemed more concerned with his organs than his life. Now, I'm not saying that donating yours or your loved ones organs is a bad idea, in fact, it is one of the more selfless acts a person can do for another person. But when the market has become so clogged with too many people needing organs, and not enough organs to go around, it just feels as though doctors might not be doing all that they can do to save that one life, and instead float towards the 'sacrifice one to save many' mindset. So yes, in my long-winded way, there should be an organ market, where people will be compensated for donating their organs. More organs equals more people receiving those organs, which in turn will force doctors to focus on saving the life of the person on the gurney first, and not a number on a list.
Compensation for organ donations is a good idea. If people want to give an organ to save and completely change a person's life then why not do it. Like Ms. Jennings said, we compensate people who donate sperm and eggs and it changes people's lives for the better. I see no wrong doing in this. People are saved all the time with organ donating and I don't think that we recognize the people who give away these organs with no remorse.
I think that if the govt. did set up some type of compensation that there would be more donors. Nor do I think having a organ black market in India as immoral. People go to extremes all the time just to make a quick buck, why not do something to also benifit another. The only thing immoral about this is that the donors dont always get paid what they should.
Do you think that if our government allowed the selling of organs through some type of compensation that there would be more donors? I believe that if the government provided money for anything mot needed than the people would be more than willing to gie it up. People would gladly give up something they didn't need fopr a few grand. I know I would.
Do you think that what goes on in India is a better solution to the shortage?
If people were unharmed in the process and were reimbursed for their organs and at the same time it is helping people in need, than I believe that it is the right thing to do for the shortage problem.
Do you think that this is immoral?
I think that many people have their beliefs, but I believe that if someone is in need and we can help them, than I don't believe that it is immoral.
I brought this topic up with my dad lst night who is a nurse and he brought up a good question to ask here.
Who pays for transplants?
Private insurers only cover certain stuff, so who pays for the majority of the rest? And do you think they would want to pay more to a donor?
I did my research, the answer was something I hadn't thought of.
i think there would be alot more donors if the price was right for the organ.The only problem with getting money for organs is how much then would we charge the patient for the organ and the transplant how would the hospital or insurance cover?
if someone really needs a kidney to live then if someone is willing to give it up then that should be their decision. Everyone is born with two kidneys, but u can live with just one. If someone in my family needed a kidney to survive and i was a compatable doner i would do it.
I would have to agree that while selling an organ should not be illegal it is a matter of morals. Are people relly willing to auction off their organs to the highest bidder? With our economy in the state that it is in people are becomming desperate for money so that they may hang on to their homes and just make ends meet, I think many people would just see the dollar sign and rush into it without listening to all the possible outcomes.
Does anyone remember Stem Cell research? It is a very controversial science but could solve this whole problem.
While Stem Cell research would fixed the organ shortage problem, it is seen mainly as unethical because it uses embryonic cells from embryos. But scientist have found other ways of growing cells to form skin, organs, etc. So if we can remove the ethical issue, and present a solution for people needing organs we would not need an Organ Market like this article suggest.
An Organ Market would form, but from a business that grows them. And some new millionaires would be made from the growth and selling of organs. All we need is someone who is smart enough to start the business.
I believe that selling organs within the United States should be legal. The choice of selling ones organs either for the money or for a good cause should be up to the individual. Many people are in need for these organs that a lot of people would be willing to sell.
I feel that America is complicated enough without trying to figure out why we dont have an organ market. I do feel that it should be everyones own choice.
I do not particularly like the idea of a "open market", so to speak, for the sale of organs. This is unjust, and truly immoral. Imagine the problems that would arise with an organ marketing system. Filtered information would lead one to believe that India has great success with it; however my opinion is to the contrary.
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