Sale of Organs for Transplantation - Research Paper Example

In contemporary times, the human race has the advantage of enhanced access to a varied variety as well as access to a diverse range of food and medications. However, more chronic illnesses continue to emerge in increasing patterns and necessitate interventions implicating organ transplantation. In this context, World Health Organization (WHO) may be quoted, that is, “organ transplantation is often the only treatment for end state organ failure, such as liver and heart failure. Although end stage renal disease patients can be treated through other renal replacement therapies, kidney transplantation is generally accepted as the best treatment both for quality of life and cost effectiveness” (par. 1). Thus, the point to be stressed here pertains that organ transplantation is crucial to the success of the field of medicine as chronic illnesses may be cured by virtue of the process. However, as simple as it sounds, there may be issues attached to organ transplantation which act as a deterrence in the process. Firstly, as opposed to a vast array of patients requiring organ transplantation, the donors are fewer in number. Moreover, the sale and purchase of organs involves ethical and moral issues, as a few opponents of organ transplant see the procedure as a violation of the laws of nature. Yet, these issues fail to negate the fact that in Western countries, for instance, the US, organ transplantation is being carried out with a striking success rate, where a lot of lives have been saved by virtue of the procedure. Furthermore, considering the glaring need for increased sources of organs to be donated for critical patients in dire need of transplantation, organ sale has often been regarded as the only viable solution. Proponents of organ sale argue that saving the lives of these patients is crucial in the context, and thus regulating the sale of these organs can effectively contribute towards addressing the issue at hand. [And14]. On the other hand, those who oppose organ sale contend that one must rely on the Divine power for the decisions of life and resorting to organs` purchase from any kind of sources would be detrimental to the dignity of mankind. Another point of contention in this context is that an individual must be given the right to choose for himself, regarding the means and resources they intend on exhausting, even if it involves organ transplant (Finn 2000). In any case, it must be ensured that effective regulation and proper governance is being conducted while ensuring the increase in its supply on a global scale. The foremost and so far the most logical argument made in favor of organ transplant is that it saves lives. One organ donation can contribute in saving around eight lives on the average. For those who aren’t in such critical conditions, but are otherwise reliant on costly routinized procedures, for instance the kidney dialysis, may have a chance of living a normal life after getting an organ transplant (Rothman 2006). For other patients, organ transplant will play the role of restoring the life, for instance a heart transplant could enhance the life-span of an individual considerably. Also, though the opponents use the argument against organ transplantation, yet around 100,000 individuals waiting in line for a transplant indicates the dire need of organ transplant and for this reason effort must be made to improve the system (Steiner 2004). More so, it may also restore a life in the figurative context. In other words, if the heart of an otherwise brain dead individual is donated to another individual whose life could be saves, the heart of the dead person is still alive in another person`s body. Also, as the opponents exaggerate that organ donation is a dire tragedy, that isn`t true in all cases. Portions of liver, lungs, pancreas and intestines can be donated, also one of the kidneys as well, with a very low risk of complications to save lives (Racusen & James 1998). Thus, considering this argument, organ transplantation must be considered as a gift of god rather than a violation of standards of human dignity (Munson 2002). Another issue at hand in context to the moral debate on organ transplantation is the regulation and governance of the sale and purchase of organs. The sole question arises with regard to the individuals who would qualify as potential donors for organ transplantation. Firstly, the market must be regulated effectively and a close eye must be kept on the market by the authorities. The institutionalization of rules and orders of business for the market must be specified beforehand, which will automatically identify potential donors as well. For instance, India has managed to supersede these issues to a great extent by institutionalization of organ transplantation. In one such case, the living donors who have been declared as brain dead by the authorities are regulated by authorized committees, after which these are available for medical centers with an identified priority list. Also, India has come up with systematic working guidelines for these authorization committees, which removes uncertainties from the process (Legal and Ethical Aspects of Organ Donation and Transplantation 2009). Also, interpretation of these laws and ethics is also being done consistently to further smoothen the process of organ transplantation. Another argument in favor of organ transplant is the cost effectiveness of the procedure along with the potential for medical research via this procedure. Firstly, as discussed above as well, apparently the procedure may seem to be costly, yet in reality it saves the cost rather spent on costly day to day procedures. The insulin incorporation and kidney dialysis along with other related procedures cost a great deal when considered in entirety. In contrast, a kidney transplant would improve the quality of life at a lower cost incurred holistically (Toredo-pelaya 2010). More so, if individuals opt willingly to donate their organs for transplantations, or in a few cases even their entire bodies for the purpose, the research centers may perform tests and experiments on these organs or tissues to reach breakthroughs in research studies aimed at finding cures to complex diseases. Thus, by virtue of organ donation even more lives could be saved than intended. Thus, conclusively, in the contemporary world, it would be quite ignorant on part of authorities also individuals to not explore and exhaust the option of organ transplantation. On one hand where the mankind has access to the best medical facilities and the most advanced medical drugs to cure the diseases, on the other hand a few of these diseases are impossible to be cured without organ transplantation. Organ transplantation can contribute towards saving more lives than intended. Firstly, one human can contribute towards saving eight lives, as eight of the organs can be used as donors for transplantations. Also, the cost incurred otherwise by lengthy procedures in quite high if considered in entirety, and by acquiring an organ transplant, the cost would be reduced significantly. More so, the quality of life may be improved of certain individuals and the donated organs may be used for medical research to further find cures to complex diseases. Opponents on the other hand argue that organ transplantation violates the principals of divine power, while it is recommended to leave the decision to the individual himself. Also, institutionalization of the organ transplantation must be ensured and a close eye must be kept by the authorities to ensure that a proper system is being followed. Though it is a difficult task apparently, but with seriousness and willingness, it may be achieved with considerable success. Bibliography Andre, Claire and Manuel Velasquez."Kidneys for Sale." 2014. Santa Clara. Internet Source Finn, Robert. Organ Transplants: Making the Most of Your Gift of Life. Beijing: O'Reilly, 2000. Internet resource. Legal and Ethical Aspects of Organ Donation and Transplantation. Medknow Publications, n.d.. (2009). Internet resource. Munson, Ronald. Raising the Dead: Organ Transplants, Ethics, and Society. Oxford [England: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print. Racusen, Lorraine C, Kim Solez, and James F. Burdick. Kidney Transplant Rejection: Diagnosis and Treatment. New York: M. Dekker, 1998. Internet resource. Rothman, S M, and D J. Rothman. "The Hidden Cost of Organ Sale." American Journal of Transplantation. 6.7 (2006): 1524-1528. Print. Steiner, Robert W. Educating, Evaluating, and Selecting Living Kidney Donors. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2004. Internet resource. Toledo-Pereyra, Luis H. Organ Preservation for Transplantation. Austin, Tex: Landes Bioscience, 2010. Internet resource. World Health Organization. "Human organ transplantation." 2014. who.int. Read More