The Organ Trafficking Epidemic

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Official individuals partake in organ trafficking which shows that organ trafficking is a valid issue that must be handled. As of now, U.S. citizens are not prohibited to buy organs outside of the United States by NOTA (National Organ Transplant Act of 1984). In “Can The Government Ban Organ Sale? Recent Court Challenges And The Future Of US Law On Selling Human Organs And Other Tissue”, Glenn I. Cohen states that “. . . if a US citizen travels abroad to buy a kidney or other organ his act is not prohibited by NOTA and it is generally accepted that more general US laws prohibiting trafficking do not apply to organ sale” (Cohen 1984). Buying organs outside of the United States transplant system is not yet illegal, but it is highly frowned upon. The moral issue with organ donations is prevalent in today’s society. The Pope had declared that organ donation is an act of value. “Organ donation is seen as a gift of love and fits within a communication ethos that most religions embrace” (Tonti- Filippini 410). In most religions, organ donation is regarded as honorable to the human race. Organ donation should be embraced in the same way that organ trafficking needs to be kept under control because it is immoral. Organ shortages cause a more prevalent organ trafficking black market today. “The underground organ trade constitutes ten percent of worldwide organ transplants, producing between $600 million and $1.2 billion in illicit revenue each year” (Kelly 1319). Organ shortages drive people to participate in the black market for organ transplants, and there is a ton of money as a result of this issue. In the United States and throughout the world, there is an abundant shortage of organs and a high need for organ donors. Organ shortages cau... ... middle of paper ... ...e Journal. 39.6 (2012): 852-853. Health Source: Nursing/ Academic Edition. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. Nazarko, Linda . “When I’m Dead And Gone: Organ Donation And The Community Nurse.” British Journal Of Community Nurse. 18.6 (Jun 2013): 283. Health Source: Nursing/ Academic Edition. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. Reid, T.R. The Healing Of America. New York: The Penguin Press, 2009. Print. Reidler, Jay S. et. al. “Recent Developments in Health Law.” Journal of Law, Medicine, & Ethics. 40.2 (2012): 409-427. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Mar. 2014 Relman, Arnold S. A Second Opinion. New York: Public Affairs, 2007. Print. Tonti- Flippini, Nicholas. “Religious And Secular Death: A Parting Of The Ways.” Bioethics. 26.8 (Oct 2012): 410-421. Health Source: Nursing/ Academic Edition. Web. 22 Mar. 2014. Wolff, Jonathan. The Human Right To Health. New York: W.W. Norton& Company, 2012. Print.

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