Becker and Elias in their article: Cash for Kidneys: A Case for the Market of Organs, show many different perspectives in both fact and opinion on the topic of Kidney transplants. The amount of kidney transplants in 2012 greatly differ from a decade ago as the average wait time for a transplant has increased by 1.6 years and the amount of American Citizens needing a transplant has risen by 41,000 people. Today, the demand for a kidney transplant far exceeds the supply of matching donor kidneys. With four main blood types and different muscle tissues to match, this is both a lengthy and difficult task. With less kidneys than needed, hence the current wait time of 4.5 years, many people die while waiting for the transplant they so desperately …show more content…
Currently, the cost of waiting for a kidney transplant, in total, is 350,000 dollars while on dialysis. This accounts to 80,000 dollars annually. With more variations of kidneys due to a market for organs, this wait time can drastically decrease, thus allowing patients to save quite a bit of money. If the transplant costs 150,000 dollars and the added compensation for the organ (15,000) donated totals the operation to equal 165,000 dollars, the average patient is saving over 50% of what they would have had to pay if on dialysis for the 4.5 year waiting period. Therefore, the marginal benefit of creating a market for organs highly outweighs the marginal cost of the compensation and lives risked for not creating such a market. The market would socially benefit the patients, and economically benefit the donors (as they receive money for their donation), doctors (as they receive more money from the transplant), and family of the patient (who will save a lot of money in the long run that they could put toward after care for the patient, or a college fund for their grandchildren). Additionally, creating this market would even the playing field a bit as people “cheat” their way to a higher spot on the waiting list by living in multiple states. It will also reduce the amount of wealthy people who go overseas to “cut the line” and get involved in illegal black markets. This market will allow the process to be more fair overall. The money involved creates an incentive for donors, yes, but it also highly benefits the patient who needs a kidney to
“Of the more than 101,000 people in the United States who need a kidney, fewer than 17,000 will receive a transplant this year.” Every day people die from not receiving the transplants they need and every day more people are added to the transplant list. “Tragically, more than 7,000 of the people waiting for a kidney either died or were dropped from the list because they had become too sick to qualify for a transplant.” The majority of the donors in the United States are deceased at the time that their organs are harvested. Society is just not donating their organs, even when we can live a perfectly healthy and happy
A continuing problem exists in trying to close the gap between the supply and demand of procured organs in the United States. An increase in the amount of transplant operations performed has risen significantly over time. As a result, a new name is added to the national waiting list every 16 minutes (Duan, Gibbons, & Meltzer, 2000). It is estimated that about 100,000 individuals are on the national transplant waiting list at all times (Munson, 2012). Something needs to be done before these numbers get completely out of control. Despite the introduction of Gift of Life and many other educational efforts, the United
My grandfather was a lucky one, though he had to wait 5 years until his luck was fully granted. He was diagnosed with sever kidney failure, spent 5 years on dialysis, then was blessed with the option of getting a kidney… twice. Though the first time he had to reject because of the health of his wife-after her death, he was called once more with the option of having a kidney transplant. However, my grandfather is an exception, most people do not get called once, let alone twice, for the option of receiving a kidney. As of October 25th 2013, about 100,000 people were waiting for a new kidney in the United States. (SCU) Every day, 18 people from that list die along with 10 others being added. As of October 25th, 2013, out of the 100,000 people waiting for a new kidney while only about 10,000 received one; that means 90,000 people are either rolled over to the next year, or die waiting. The marvelousness of kidney donations, compared to other organs donations, is that each person is born with two and can sustain a healthy life with just one; simple facts such as this is what has driven the black market kidney trade to flourish. (CBSNEWS) However, if this is the case then why aren’t more people donating? Is it because they are not getting something in return? Why donate for free when someone on the black market will pay 10,000 dollars? The main arguments against black market organ donations, not limited to kidneys, is that people do not know the risks- yet if someone is
Thousands of people in the United States are dying each year because of a failed kidney, and have no chance to receive one. In “Organ Sales Will Save Lives” by MIT student, Joanna MacKay argues against banning the sale of organs, but instead recommends legalizing and regulating the trade of human organs in order to try and save people’s lives. MacKay reports that in America alone, approximately 350,000 people struggle each year with kidney failure. Since there is no cure, and buying kidneys is currently illegal, this leads the person to search for other options that usually result in purchasing organs on the black market. MacKay states that a black market purchase allows the recipient to buy a fresh, healthy organ from a living donor without the agonizing process of waiting on a list (157-158). MacKay believes that both the recipient and donor would benefit in the legalization and regulation process and if this comes to pass, more organs would be made available for transplant and many people would get the chance to live another day.
The demand for organ donors far exceeds the supply of available organs. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) … there are more than 77,000 people in the U.S. who are waiting to receive an organ (Organ Selling 1). The article goes on to say that the majority of those on the national organ transplant waiting list are in need of kidneys, an overwhelming 50,000 people. Although financial gain in the U.S and in most countries is illegal, by legalizing and structuring a scale for organ donor monetary payment, the shortage of available donors could be reduced. Legalizing this controversial issue will help with the projected forecast for a decrease in the number of people on the waiting list, the ethical concerns around benefitting from organ donation, and to include compensation for the organ donor.
In the article “Kidneys for Sale: A Reconsideration,” the author, Miriam Schulman raises the notoriously controversial issue regarding organ sale. He describes the main ideas from both the supporting and the opposing side to give readers a wider view about organ sales.
Dying painfully in a hospital bed is not the way anyone wants to go. Unfortunately for many people, it is a reality. Thousands of people a year end up dying while waiting for an organ that could save their lives. While on the other side of the world, thousands of people die a year, but from infection when an organ is forcefully taken from them to sell on the black market. There are two sides of the organ donation list, and both can end in death. This paper will discuss the shortage of donated organs and the issues with the current donation system. It will also discuss the black market for transplant organs and possible solutions to viable organ shortage. The focus of this paper will be on transplant kidneys as they are the most desirable organ for buyers and sellers.
Since the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 prevents a monetary price from being placed on a donated organ, effective allocation mechanisms must be utilized. Allocation mechanisms must be accessed because the shortage of supply compared to the demand. In any market, allocation mechanisms rely on many factors but some include friendships, “under the table” payments, predicted profit, and personal biases.
In the essay " Kidneys for Sale: A Reconsideration" by Miriam Schulman, kidneys are fair in our lives. The writer talks with important things in our lives related to our organs specificly kidneys. Everyday almost 17 people die when they wait for a suitable organ. In 2011, in United States, kidney transplants were about 15,417. They had a healthy way to transplant kidneys to other people. As they got it tested wheather if they can accept it or not. After transplangt there has been seen no harm. Ninty percent of people got kidneys from a living- donor and 82 % of people from died-donor. When they get it from poor people, they remain still alive at least five years. Actually the poor people sell their kidneys.
Organ transplantation is a term that most people are familiar with. When a person develops the need for a new organ either due to an accident or disease, they receive a transplant, right? No, that 's not always right. When a person needs a new organ, they usually face a long term struggle that they may never see the end of, at least while they are alive. The demand for transplant organs is a challenging problem that many people are working to solve. Countries all over the world face the organ shortage epidemic, and they all have different laws regarding what can be done to solve it. However, no country has been able to create a successful plan without causing moral and ethical dilemmas.
In the United States there are 122,365 people waiting for organs to be donated; of those 100,218, are waiting for a kidney transplant. The transplant list is so long that some patients wait up to 10 years to receive a kidney. These patients wait in agony for a kidney they may never receive. An article by Barbara Mantel affirms that the most common reasons for kidney transplant include: Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, Inherited Kidney disease, and inflammatory effects of drug therapy for other diseases. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services records show that in 2012 there were 30% more deceased Kidney donors than living donors. The
As this person waits, the more tempting the black market organs look to seek out. A person who is waiting for a kidney can wait up to 5 years for an organ, and in other states up to 10 years for a kidney from a deceased donor (Living Kidney Donor Network). As they wait for these organs, up to 80 percent of these patients are on kidney dialysis (Living kidney Donor Network). The longer a person waits on kidney dialysis the less likely the transplant will save their lives. The quicker they’re given a new kidney, their live expectancy will almost double than when they wait on dialysis (Living Kidney Donor Network). Dialysis is an extremely expensive treatment as is, the country would be saving money, paying a flat fee for an organ rather than waiting for an organ donation, while on dialysis for months or even years. In addition to, there would be more evaluations for both parties involved. For the donor, there would be evaluations ensuring that their organ can be donated and it’s safe for the surgery to take place. For the recipient, it would ensure the organ would be a right fit, that the organ wouldn’t be prone to rejection, that they aren’t receiving a weak or infected organ. All of which isn’t guaranteed in the unregulated system in place now. The longer a person waits on kidney dialysis the less likely the effectiveness of a transplant. This may lead to an organ failing even if it is a successful transplant.
What can be done in 4.5 years? A child can be born and learn to walk and talk in 4.5 years. A middle schooler can move to high school and graduate. A college student could get their diploma. A new president could be elected. Imagine watching little miracles like first steps, or a graduation, or a new election from the screen of a cell phone in a hospital beds. This is the life for thousands of kidney transplant patients that haven't yet found a donor. The obvious problem is that the United States has a major shortage of kidneys for transplants; however, this problem could easily be solved with a type of payment for kidney donation.
The waiting list for a kidney is currently around 93,000 patients. In the time in which a patient is waiting for a kidney, they often die or become to sick to undergo surgery. An increase in donors would allow for more people to be saved before it’s too late. A well regulated system would also serve to benefit patients. To increase donors the government could offer tax breaks for donors.
They conclude that “research shows that the underlying motivation of most paid kidney donors is poverty” and that “paid kidney donation is associated with depression, regret, and discrimination” (The State of the International Organ Trade, 2007). In other words, throwing money at the poor in exchange for their organs will not get them out of poverty. Offering a financial incentive program for organ donation will allow the rich to exploit the poor and deprive the poor from life-saving donation. The demand for organs will likely remain higher than the supply; therefore, prices for organs will become competitive and eliminate the chance for the poor to receive a transplant. Implementing financial compensation would only serve to shift the demographic of organ recipients away from those with the greatest need to those with the greatest wealth.