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Grand Canyon University *
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106
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English
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Jan 9, 2024
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docx
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The Selling of Human Organs
Grand Canyon University
ENG-106-0501 Composition
12/03/2023
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The Selling of Human Organs
One of the most important medical improvements of the modern era is organ transplantation. The issue of selling and donating organs in the United States has been a topic of debate, with differing perspectives on its ethical implications. Unfortunately, the demand for organs exceeds the number of organ donors. Conversely, numerous opinions exist regarding the potential issues associated with selling organs, as it can lead to financial exploitation and facilitate unethical activities like black market operations. Ethics, by definition, is “a branch of philosophy dealing with principles relating to human behavior, to the correctness and wrongness of certain acts, and the goodness and evil of the motives and ends of such actions” (Ethics, 2012). This is being addressed by many and is significant for individuals in need of functional organs. More than 107,380 individuals including men, women, and children, are currently on the waiting list for organ transplants, and tragically, 21 Americans lose their lives each day while waiting for these life-saving procedures (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Since there is a shortage of human organs, the selling of human organs is a highly contentious issue that elicits strong opinions from various perspectives. Still, if legalized, it can alleviate the organ shortage crisis, potentially saving countless lives. Over 120,000 individuals awaiting transplants are currently registered on the waiting list (Kappel, 2015). Proponents contend that compensating organ donors could incentivize more people to participate, increasing the supply and reducing black-
market activities. However, opponents raise ethical concerns, emphasizing the potential exploitation of vulnerable individuals and the commodification of the human body. It is believed that allowing financial means to play a role in organ transplantation would lead to inequality, as those who are wealthy would have an advantage in obtaining organs over those who are not. They argue that organ transplantation should remain rooted in altruism and prioritize equitable
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access to organs based on medical needs, rather than financial means. The debate surrounding the sale of human organs highlights the complex balance between addressing global medical needs and necessitating the development of alternative solutions to address them. Many people think the goal of organ transplantation is to save lives for those in need, not to create a market for
organs. Therefore, it is important to maintain the principles of altruism and equitable access in organ transplantation to uphold the integrity and ethical standards of the medical field. The increasing demand for transplant procedures has led to a controversial debate surrounding the selling of human organs, others argue that it can greatly contribute to increasing the number of organ procedures, and others believe it goes against ethical and moral principles.
The Demand for Organ Transplantation
Due to the significant demand for organ transplants in the United States, numerous patients are presently awaiting their procedures as they remain on the National Transplant List. According to the U.S. Government Information on Organ Donation and Transplantation, “109,000 men, women, and children are on the National Transplant Waiting List as of September
2020” (Organ Donation Statistics, 2020). According to the data, a considerable number of individuals cannot undergo necessary operations due to a shortage of donated supplies in the United States. From an ethical standpoint, the primary motivation behind selling and donating organs was to support transplantation. Without the required supply of organ donors, “21 people die every day from the shortage of available for transplantation” (Facts and Myths on Transplant,
2019, para. 2). Based on the findings of the government study and ethical deliberations, one can make the case that the ethicality of selling and donating human organs lies in its capacity to alleviate the substantial demand for organ procedures. Consequently, there is a possibility of reducing the fatalities linked to the waiting list for organ transplants. Giving organs during one's
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