Globalization of Organ Transplantation

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Recommended: Ethics and organ sales

The need for organs for transplantation is growing rapidly. Currently, the system works in an inefficient manner that forces people into illegal activities that are dangerous and could lead to death. This system makes it illegal for a person to sell their organ to another that may need it for transplant. This makes a waiting list that people must wait for donors that are willing to give up their organs for free with very little benefits if at all. There are however other options that should be considered. Some that will be discussed in this essay are different types of auctions and cadaver extractions. Also, an analysis of other countries current policies will be done. Some of these countries may have aspects of their programs that could be good, and other parts that may be bad. The beneficial aspects of some of these plans could possibly be synthesized into a unified law on organ transplantation and organ marketplaces that the whole world could use.

Domestic Organ Transplantation Concepts

Some think that the idea of having a market where a person may sell their organs would reduce the autonomy of that organ “vendor.” This is not the viewpoint of James Stacey Taylor. He says that it would actually enhance the person’s autonomy because “allowing persons to sell their organs will enable them to exercise a greater degree of control over their bodies” (Taylor, 2002). He does not however address any moral issues and implications of this market, and only addresses the fallacies of the autonomy related issues and arguments. As a preliminary remark, Taylor states that this market would only be used for renewable bodily sources such as blood, plasma, semen, ova, and some unnecessary organs such as kidneys. He also states...

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...le of Human Organs and Tissues. BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY LAW REVIEW, 313-343.

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Kuntz, J. R. (2009). A Litmus Test for Exploitation. Journal of Medicine and Philosophy, 22.

Lara Rosen, A. R. (2011). Addressing the Shortage of Kidneys for Transplantation: Purchase and Allocation through Chain Auctions. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 40.

T, B., & N, S.-H. (2006). Is It Ethical For Patients With Renal Disease To Purchase Kidneys From The World's Poor? PLoS Medicine, 5.

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