Comments on: In Need of Some Serious Cash Flow? Ever Consider Selling Your Kidney?

By: Chris Phippen

Chris Phippen — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:49:12 +0000

I’m with Vitus on the American perception of poverty. We really have no idea until we travel abroad and get a glimpse, and even then, we won’t truly know what poverty is.
As far as the legalization argument, I’m sure there are elements of the issue that I can’t think of right now, as it is a very complex moral/practical/economical issue. That said, I’d say legalize it. If for no other reason, for the health and safety of the donors as well as the recipients. I agree with Emily, if the government can’t control the rampant black market for organs, the best option is to legalize it. As Lindsay mentioned, there may even be a tax opportunity if the government legalized and regulated the trade. Does anyone else feel like they’ve heard this argument before?

By: Matthew Perez

Matthew Perez — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:30:51 +0000

Although I see validity in the legalization of organ trafficking based upon the points provided in the blog as well as the responses (difficult to control, ensure the safety of donors, etc.), I have side with Vitus on this one. It is easy to claim that things will improve for donors if organ selling is legalized but what kind of slippery slope does this lead us down? Does that mean it is alright to sell ourselves into indentured servitude simply because it was something we agreed with? Part of the reasons laws are in place is to not only protect people from others but to protect us from ourselves. Without the sense of structure that laws provide, people would be more inclined to make foolish decisions. Libertarians might argue that people have the right to do whatever they want as long as they are not hurting other but when do the actions of one person not affect others? No person is an island; any actions taken that bring a detriment to you will also in some way bring harm to others.

By: Vitus Holzner

Vitus Holzner — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:20:16 +0000

This post reminds of a comment Hemanth made in class last week about people being poor in America. He said something along the lines of “You people have no idea what poor means!” Of course he put it more eloquently but that was the bottom line of his statement. Well I have to say I couldn’t agree more. We talk about being poor if we can’t afford a 46” Plasma TV. So we are talking about people who sell their body parts because they are so desperate, that is what I call real poverty.
With regards to the discussion of legalization I strongly disagree with the majority. I don’t believe that giving in only because it’s hard to control is the right way. I think with this particular issue we should focus on how to solve the problem that makes people want to sell their organs in the first place.

By: Leslie Mann

Leslie Mann — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:32:40 +0000

Organs sold now? What’s next for the future? I’m scared to think. I completely agree with Chase on this that even if it were legalized people would still take advantage and a black market will continue to prosper in the back alleys of India. I am by no means entirely relating the two, but I can’t seem to help mentioning the legalization of medicinal marijuana. Just because a commodity is now legal, doesn’t mean it will stop being sold illegally without any government regulations imposed. Money talks so if the highest bidder is speaking your language, then what’s to stop the wealthiest from buying these organs and re-selling them? How does the donor know that their organ is going to the ‘right’ person? Well obvious questions like this don’t matter when money is involved. These are not organ “donations” but organs being “sold.” The two are completely different.

Government regulation or not, people will find a way to sell their organs if money is involved and the desperation is great enough. This is where the true problem lies as many have previously touched on. The fact that its citizens are poor enough to sell their own organs for money, speaks of a deeper social and economic issue and until problems like these are relieved somewhat, people like Malika will continue to sell what they can of ‘themselves’ and people like Raji will continue to rip donors off for profit.

By: Chase Janvrin

Chase Janvrin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:54:02 +0000

A touchy subject indeed! Theoretically I’m for legalizing just about everything, choosing to believe that crime will always find a way to fulfill demand. I liken the dilemma of legalizing organ farming closer to abortion than to blood donation. Basically, if it’s going to happen anyway, we might as well make it safe (if anyone happens to read this response I’m sure this comment will bring up a whole new argument.) However, I’m not entirely sure that legalizing organ harvesting is a good idea. Of course there are crimes that should never be legalized; murder, rape, and….human trafficking. I would argue that there isn’t a safe and sound way to legalize human trafficking, at least not to the point where the benefits outweigh the negatives. I don’t know if there’s a safe way to legalize organ farming either. The difference in financial position between those that take, and those that give, is just too great. Even if it was legalized the opportunity to take advantage is simply too great. This is one of those unfortunate aspects of the modern world that I don’t think has a good solution.

By: Frederick Peemoeller

Frederick Peemoeller — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:55:21 +0000

As Americans we live off of fear. We lock our doors and don’t go for a jog at night because we are afraid of that unlikely chance that someone will hurt us. That sort of mentality is why legalizing the trade of donors should be done. What would stop a robber from not only take your wallet but render you unconscious and bring you to a place to have your kidney removed? If they legalized the selling of organs, organ prices will surely rescind since there will be more of them. That would ensure that criminals would not find it economical to risk a kidnapping to take an organ, because they wouldn’t get that much for it. Although this question always strikes an ethical opinion, economically it does make sense.

By: Michael Minasian

Michael Minasian — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:10:12 +0000

This is definitely a personal morality issue. I personally think that is is not morally acceptable to sell human organs regardless of the conditions. This issue has come to the forefront recently. There is even a movie being made about it.

There is a movie called Repo Men which will of course be highly hollywoodized, but it is interesting that this issue has made its way all the way into popular culture.

Trailer is here: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/universal/repomen/

By: Jordan Wente

Jordan Wente — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:05:22 +0000

Wow that is crazy. I would have never thought of this as a way to pull out of poverty. The law does leave some room for manipulation. The conditions of these transactions does in fact need to be improved however is this the kind of image India and China want to portray as they develop into major players in the international community? In essence this is saying that its comparable to the issue of abortion, that it should be the choice of the individual and what’s right for their body. The market may continue but there has to be a better option than to legalize it. These kinds of transactions go on all over the world but I think the major issue remains the ethical implications for the country if it condones such transactions. The benefits are substantial to legalizing organ trade and may have a significant impact on the lives of many but even if the donor willingly donates he is still engaging in the transaction out of force. It may not be violent force but the dire economic situation leading to the decision is still a form of coercion. What happens when a family member is dying and could be saved if you donated an organ but you have already given yours away? How will this affect the medical community in the country and doctors reputations? It is defiantly a loaded issue.

By: John Barry

John Barry — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:00:39 +0000

I’m all for legalizing the sale of practically all things sold through illegal means such as the black market. While I don’t think that anyone should have the right to bear arms, (seeing as how the “quality” of human beings is not a constant), so long as guns are in existance, their sale must be legalized in order to control the amount of illegal activity involved in the acquisition of such life robbing tools. By this same token, while I agree that it is highly unfortunate that some people must sell body parts to get out of stick situations they might find themselves in, it is their body, and so long as there is a free and legal market for organs, the regulation sure to be imposed on such sales will serve mostly to protect all parties involved in the transaction, resulting in higher consumer surplus’, and more saved lives.

By: Kirk Story

Kirk Story — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:33:50 +0000

I don’t know guys. I read the comments and I understand the ‘legalize it’ argument. But geez, I don’t know. Selling organs? I would hope we can find other ways to help people out of poverty than facilitating the auction of their body parts.