Legalization Of Selling Human Organs - Case Study Example

Legalization Of Selling Human Organs As trading activities have increased globally both in legal and illegal merchandise, so has been the trade in human organs. The advancements in technologies have encouraged the trade. The trading in human organs like the kidney, lungs, ligaments, heart, and liver is called organ trade. The access of organs for transplants in many countries vary due to national situations, cost of the operation, and its healthcare, technological advancement of a country and supply of the organ. The findings show that many deaths are occurring due to organ trade being illegalized. Deaths that could be prevented by legalizing organ trade, pitting the merits of legalizing organ trade against the disadvantages of making it illegal. Legalizing the trade will save lives, activities of the black market will be erased, and organs will be available at cheaper prices for all. Universally, there is a problem caused by the high demand for transplants yet a shortage looms in terms of supply. Donations of organs by the deceased are affected by the legal system of countries and the socio-cultural factors. Even in developed countries where deceased organ donations are high, they fail to meet the growing demand. The use of live donors for kidneys and livers transplants is carried out, but the practice is termed illegal in many countries creating black markets for such scarce organs. Many arguments have been passed whether to legalize or not the trade, from medical, financial, legal and other points of view. All the countries are against legalizing organ trade except Iran. Other nations around the world have some laws when it comes to organ trade whether through legislation or outright ban and who can make donations. Presumed consent is being used by other countries to increase the supply of these vital organs which has been adopted by a country like France. Schemes have been developed by the government to compensate those who donate organs and coming up with legal initiatives to collect organs despite being involved in it being illegal. China is among the countries that have violated human rights in relation to organ trade where cases of kidnappings have been reported, strict and prohibitive laws and policies, have been passed to regulate the trade. (Kluger 42) In the world hot spot countries, The Times has identified where the black market of the organ trade takes place. They include South America in which illegal transplantation became an issue in Brazil. In a routine medical checkup, a patient was removed a kidney. South Africa: the less fortunate from South America like Brazil had their kidneys bought and sold in South Africa. United Kingdom: a research carried out in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 2002 revealed that 29 patients had gone for kidneys in the black market and that they were transplanted abroad. A half of the operations failed while a third of the patients died (Putz 5) According to an article by Sam listed in The Times, the sale of organs such as the kidney for transplant should be legalized. Legalizing the sale of such organs could help meet the rising demand of those in need of kidneys and curb the booming black market (Lister 31). The idea, of selling human organs, is a medical taboo, but selling organs is the only way to ensure that the rising number of patients in hospitals in need of kidney transplants can be addressed. Legalizing the trade will help lives and do away with the black market practices. Comparing the prices in the legal market where the price of a kidney is $ 30,000 and in the black market is roughly $ 150,000. Few people can afford $ 150,000 for a kidney transplant in the black market. By making it legal in the USA will not only, make many people have access to organ transplantation but also save lives. Legalizing it will drive the forces behind the black market away and bring a legal practice into the light. Organ trade will encourage lives to be preserved and its continuity. In his research, Lister found out that 40,000 patients were queuing for a kidney transplant in Western Europe. In the survey, 15-20% of these patients are likely to die in the waiting lines due legal constraint concerning organ trade. Those who are desperate, have financial muscles venture into the black market and produce extravagant monies to buy kidneys for their loved ones survival. Being the black market, “medical practitioners” here may not be licensed and carry out the transplant for financial purposes (Lister 31). With the improvement in levels of technologies that encourage transplants. Soft tissue navigation system has made risky procedures appear less dangerous like removing and transplanting living organs. Such systems have increased the survival chances of those undergoing such transplants like the liver. In cases where patients had to wait for months or even years for a matching donor, soft-tissue navigation system enables a safer removal and transplantation of a living donor organ. The system ensures that the donor maintains a healthy tissue to regenerate the lives. Therefore, despite massive amounts of resources required to install such systems, medical practitioners show that they have concerns for both the donors and the recipient ensuring both their safety. In the black market, such quality services are not available, an aspect that reduces chances of survival. Governments should pass laws and policies to ensure organ transplants are carried out in a quality manner. The same technologies assure safer storage for a lengthy period hence ability to meet present demand and future requirements (Laura 156). From surrogate mothers, poor individuals, who sell their body parts for survival, body snatchers, and skeleton dealers, are the main reasons why strict laws are behind organ trade in the world. Looking at those involved in kidney donations are the poor. The human body is very impressive, and the body can function with only one kidney. People need money for survival, and they will do anything to reach for that money. Donating a kidney attracts amounts up to $20,000 in the black market. Moldova, the poorest country in Europe was once a target for the black market where the most impoverished individuals were offered $ 2,000 for a kidney. With such offers, they could not refuse. Not regarding the medical side effects of such donations, they just give out. Governments are coming with strict measure to ensure that people are not giving out kidneys for “free” but consider health issue in the future. In the Winnipeg Press Ulrike & Putz (5), talks about a young man who called himself Raod. In the last seven months, this young man fled from embattled Aleppo in Syria to Lebanon. The family ran out of money. From a relative, he heard that he could sell his kidney to solve his financial crisis. The young man sells his kidney for $7,000. In Lebanon, there are no government restrictions on dealing with organ trade. The country has rich men who have benefited from the black market. The examination doctor feeds the young man with lies in order to calm him down. He is told that the kidney will grow back and that there would be no side effects (Putz 5). In truth, live donors need to undergo frequent medical checkups after the operations and people like Raod like cannot afford for regular medical checkups. The poor are being fooled to give away their vital organs at attractive prices, but significant expenses are on the way in the future, which might lead to death. Organ transplants require professional medical practitioners. Putz (5) claims that Wang Gouqi (a surgeon), removed the skin and corneas of more than 100 corpses of executed prisoners when he was a doctor at the Tanjin Armed Police Hospital. The hospital is a small medical facility that does not possess the required professional expertise and tools to carry such activity and organ transplant. According to reports, the service never made such a medical activity. In relating to this article, it shows that carrying out organ transplant requires extensive medical research and qualified medical professional. Wang was unqualified and indeed, he never performed the transplant. Not all medical facilities have such resources to accommodate transplants. Rodi is seen as having pains at the back of the taxi and is asking for painkillers. Some governments in Africa lack enough resources to facilitate delicate operations like heart transplants. More so those, who need such transplants, have to go abroad where they believe that they will get the required professional service, and medical facilities back at home do not provide ( Laura 156). Religion plays a very significant role in regard to bodily autonomy. Bodily autonomy describes the decisions one has to make when it comes to one's body treatment by others. Many religious communities and theorist believe that the body should be respected and not be treated like a property. From a religious point of view, selling a body part is analogous, and violation of the human dignity whether the donor is alive or dead. The body should be given respect it is worth (Kluger 41) The departed souls require their last respect so that they can rest in peace. As they were born, with fully body organs they ought to be buried with full body their organs like the heart, kidney, liver, and knee ligaments. Kluger ( 41) identifies two individuals who were involved in organ trafficking. Reid was arrested on suspicion of illegally selling body parts from 500 cadavers in UCLA cooler and his partner Nelson was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property. Nelson further confessed he used a power saw to dismember the bodies. Those who have had chances to have transplants like those of kidneys, liver, and the heart having been given opportunities to live again. People have seen their beloved ones rise from their deathbeds to return to their daily activities thanks to transplants they received. Organs like the liver, when donated, the donor’s liver can grow back equitably and quickly and leaves nothing but a scar. Nothing pains when one has to wait for months and even sometimes years so that they can have transplants. The world is facing a lesser supply of transplants such as the kidney due to its high demand. The shortage is due to strict laws passed to control organ trade. Organ trade is not bad but if practiced under ethical manner is good. If the collection of these vital organs is legalized, the supply will increase, and such high demands will reduce. Those, who are in hospitals, will not have to make longer queues in order to have transplants. Easing the tension between demand and supply will also make patients hopeful, as they believe that if an organ fails to work they can get another one hence reducing their pain. The black market is causing more pain to donors. In the black market, donors are paid very little money only vast sums to go to the intermediaries. Legalizing the organ trade will see the black market perish away. Activities carried out in the black market are unprofessional, as those who are involved do not operate in an ethical manner. They take it mainly in getting what they deserve, but they do not consider what sides effects they are likely to suffer. In legalized medical institutions, removal and transplants are carried out considering both the donor and the recipient. The donor should go for a frequent medical checkup after the operation so that everything is okay (Kluger 41) Despite the existence of rich literature in support of selling human organs, factions of theorists argue against the practice. Basing on the economic implication of the practice, Kolnsberg (1050) opposes the activity. He argues that it is rather unethical to engage in the selling of human organs since it leads to the social exploitation of the poor. The poor might be compelled to auction the bodies for cash, despite the fact that the money would never enhance their economic status. An array of literature exists on both sides of the coin regarding organ trade. Some sections argue out in favor of the concept citing the social and economic gains associated with the practice. However, opponents of the practice provide substantial claims against human organ trade. I believe that the legality of the issue at hand lies in the moral judgment of the donor. The decision to sell the body parts should left at the discretion of the donor who will determine the best action to take. Works Cited Front: Illegal kidney trade booms as new organ is 'sold every hour': World Health Organisation estimates 10,000 organs now traded each year." The Guardian (London, England) 2012: Business Insights: Essentials. Web. 15 Jan. 2015. Kluger, Jeffrey, et al. "The Body Snatchers."Time 163.12 (2004): 49. Academic Search Complete. Web. 13 Jan. 2015. Kolnsberg, Heather R. "An Economic Study: Should We Sell Human Organs?." International Journal Of Social Economics 30.9/10 (2003): 1049-1069. Business Source Complete. Web. 22 Jan. 2015 Putz, Ulrike."A kidney to get through the winter."Winnipeg Free Press (MB) 16 Nov. 2013: D5.Points of View Reference Center.Web. 13 Jan. 2015. Sam Lister, Health Correspondent. "Let people sell their kidneys for transplant, say doctors." Times, The (United Kingdom)n.d.: Newspaper Source Plus. Web. 13 Jan. 2015. Spinney, Laura. "Battling The Body Brokers: A Hard-Hitting Book Calls For Greater Transparency To Deter The Illegal Trade In Human Blood, Organs And Eggs." Nature 7350 (2011): 156. Academic OneFile. Web. 15 Jan. 2015. Read More