Should people be allowed to sell an organ, such as a kidney, or part of a liver, to the highest bidder?

Question

A debate on tonight's Fox News Cable Channel.

Men can sell their sperm. Women can sell their eggs, but not their organs. In a capitalist society, should people also have the rights sell their organs, whether now while alive, or later as a part of their estate? Wouldn't this make a lot more organs available for transplants? Even AIDS patients could sell their organs, when it is going to another AIDS patient.

What are you thoughts? If you are against, do you think that the marketing of sperm and eggs should also be stopped?

Answer 1

No they should not be allowed to sell organs.. because the creation of a market incites crime and people will (as they do) start cutting each other open to profit.

The solution is to legislate to allow dying people or the estate of dead people to donate organs in lieu of a percentage of inheritance taxes or death duties.

Answer 2

My opinion is no, I don't think people should be allowed to sell an organ to the highest bidder. Maybe I have that opinion because I'm a bit biased because I am kidney transplant patient, and I don't have an abundance of money. Hypothetically, If I had to bid on a kidney, there would have surely been people needing one just as much as I, with more money than I have, would have gotten the organ before me, and I would still be on dialysis. If I wasn't biased, I may have another opinion.

As for stopping the marketing of sperm and eggs, I don't think that should happen. Men are always producing new sperm, and women have a large quantity of eggs in their ovaries. There's an over-abundance of those biological matters (which a person isn't required to have to live), while an organ, like a kidney, liver, or heart is necessary to live.

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

Why are you watching Fox News?!!!!

This is no brainer fallacious comparison. Sperm and eggs are something that we produce without damaging one's self. (Okay, I guess you can damage something) I don't think anyone had killed themselves or jeopardized their health for wacking off. There might have been some slight problems while extracting eggs, but I don't think it is life threatening.

On the other hand, taking out organs is an complex and life threatening.

It is the government's duty to safeguard citizens from others and from themselves. We are rational, but our nature is to be bad at same time. The government acknowledges that and stops you from harming yourself. Taking out organ is serious business.

Economically, I hope I remember this from my economics class...

We know that there will always be demand for organs. Assuming that there is always x amount of demand line and the supply line is given by number of people who are willing to sell there organs. When the government interferes, there will be decrease in supply. The government will allow you to donate, so there will be organs available, just not too many. Still, there will be more supplies since there is a black market.

The real concern is from two points. One, there is not enough organs. Second, there is black market.

There are many people who will die because they can't find a proper organ transplant. This is sad, especially when you know that you could have an open market for this. But it may bring down the society, so the government will not take a chance on this. Black market has grown so much and so many people get hurt from it that some times you wonder what if there is a way to open up this market. Still, to justify, only way is to promote organ donation. You know that there are many people who will die each day for sickness who can donate their organs, but they choose not to. We have to find a way to promote and change our ideas about donating organs.

Answer 5

I'm against it!

Sperm, ha! Men can make gallons of it and it's no big deal. Eggs are a bigger deal, but still, there are a lot of them. But a kidney?? You never know when you are going to need one.

I remember being a very poor college student and selling plasma. I may have been unduly tempted by selling part of my liver, if that option had been available. I think people need to be protected from themselves to a certain extent. I even regret giving plasma, because I screwed up my veins.

Instead, we should be funding the cloning of body parts, and finding scientific solutions to this problem rather than capitalistic solutions. Just my opinion, though.

Answer 6

No never should be allowed to sell organs on life. First it's no the same as semen, egg or blood; human can produce those things but you can't grow another kidney or liver.

If allowed, then it would come the evil side of human nature and greed. Some people would be "forced" or "pushed" to sell; other people or big companies would find a way to take advantage and cash on some people's desperation and ignorance.

Answer 7

Sure... if u really want to put cash above your own health.

Our bodies are designed with built-in redundancy - in case of organ failure, the back-up organ kicks in. Being completely selfish, it's my body dude - built for me by god, and you aren't having a go on it, ok?

Secondly, from post op research done in the US and UK, something like 80% of all people who've had a major organ transplant end up with memories that aren't their own. What's going on here then? C'mon science, explain.

Then there's all the donor/rejection issues - having a transplant isn't a walk in the park.

In my opinion, selling an organ is fine, provided you're aware of the consequences - personally, I wouldn't. Dr Frankenstein built his monster because he could, not because he should. Similarly, we do transplants because we can, to show how clever we are - not because we should. Instead we should get on with stem cell research, figure out how to grow new organs in a petri-dish and condemn this barbaric transplant business to the middle ages, where it belongs.

Answer 8

(Un?)fortunately, we live in a capitalist society where EVERYTHING has the potential to be a commodity. Prostitution is a form of this. Body parts are commodities too, as you note with eggs and sperm. What about kidneys? What about "purchasing" new body parts, such as breast implants, calf implants? Its interesting to note how this is occuring in other countries; Brazil and China, come to mind. But there is lot of folklore wrapped into this and its difficult to see what is real or not. The "Kidney Theft" urban legend comes to mind here, in which med students trying to pay tuition were stealing kidneys from unsuspecting victims and selling them on the black market. (Note: it IS an urban legend....check snopes.com, Brunvands' books, etc.). What about children from other countries being "sold" (adoption fees, etc.) to American/Canadian parents?

Should they be allowed to sell body parts? I think we need to look at the bigger picture and I would argue its already happening. Its inevitable.

Answer 9

I couldn't just sit around and do nothing like my doctors suggested.

They didn't want me to do anything or to take herbs or herbal remedies, but I had to try something - they just wanted me to do dialysis!

This program allowed me to take control of my health. I went from Stage 4 to Stage 3 kidney disease.

It was easy to do and my BUN, creatinine and anemia are all in better ranges.

Reversing Your Kidney Disease?

Answer 10

Yes, of course. I mean it's YOUR organ, why shouldn't you be allowed to sell it?