On January 5th, five days into the new year, five year old Jaclyn Miller had an almost fatal heart attack. She managed to survive the attack, but her heart had been severely damaged, and doctors said that a heart transplant was needed. That same day, Jaclyn was put on the National Transplant List for a heart. Although her small size and rare blood type made it difficult to find a match, her family still clinged onto a glimmer of hope. On February 16th, Jaclyn celebrated her 6th birthday at California Pacific Medical Center, one of top organ transplant facilities in the nation, under careful medical supervision. She was still fighting and still waiting for that perfect match that could save her life. On March 2nd, six year old Jaclyn Miller …show more content…
With low inputs into the organ donor system and such high demands for organs, these conditions create a lottery system for many families to find an available and compatible organ for their loved-ones. On top of this, these conditions create the climate for an underground market for organs.
Illegal and involuntary organ harvesting is a real crisis that emerges from the high stress perpetrated by the National Transplant List. Organ selling and purchasing is illegal in every country, except Iran. A kidney can be sold on the black market for around $262,000 US dollars while a heart can go for around $116,000 US dollars. This organs are harvested from paid “donors”, grave looting, prisoners, and executed prisoners. The people being harvested for their valuable organs run high risk, but the buyer or receiver of the purchased organ runs an almost equally high risk. People who purchase an organ will have to undergo surgery in unsafe environment. They also run the risk of receiving an unhealthy organ or an organ that isn’t the correct match. The fact that people are willing to steal, sell, and buy organs at such high risk and prices shows the value and rarity of organs. So many problems arrive from lack of available healthy organs. However, there is a simple yet controversial proposal, and it is semi-mandatory
Every day some dies after waiting years on a transplant list. The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 says that in the United States, the sale of organs is illegal. Some believe this act may be preventing thousands of people from getting the organs that will save their lives. The truth is every day someone dies and their organs could be used to help others and everyday a life of one and the livelihood of another could be saved. The reasons for allowing the sale of organs is very simple to understand. It can help others financially, save money on medical expenses and most importantly, save lives. Critiques believe this would be a mistake causing spur of the moment decisions, and illegal obtain these organs for sale. With the use of regulation, these doubts can be laid to rest. Before the problem can be solved, the problem has to be identified.
There are a lot of people in this world that are going through organ failure. The National Kidney Foundation even found, “Every fourteen minutes someone is added to the kidney transplant list”. Statistically speaking, that is a great deal of people in need of a vital organ. The author Joanna MacKay talks about the need for organ donations in her article “Organ Sales Will Save Lives”. MacKay disputes her case briefly when stating her thesis in the first paragraph. She gives the audience her opinion on how the selling of organs should be built to become legal. Throughout the text she touches on the black market selling of kidneys. She also incorporates how other third world countries have allowed this practice of organ sales. The article includes her insight on what would happen if organ sales would be legalized and how it would be regulated.
Today we are in great need of a solution to solve the problem of the shortage of human organs available for transplant. The website for Donate Life America estimates that in the United States over 100 people per day are added to the current list of over 100,000 men, women, and children that are waiting for life-saving transplants. Sadly enough, approximately 18 people a day on that list die just because they cannot outlive the wait for the organ that they so desperately need to survive. James Burdick, director of the Division of Transplantation for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services confirms, “The need for organ transplants continues to grow and this demand continues to outpace the supply of transplantable organs”. The
Many of those who choose to sell their organ is either forced or manipulated by wealth. It is more likely for a poorer citizen from a developing country to be willing to supply n organ for a member of the upper class or for someone who can afford it, either through directly or through a broker. Brokers will do what every it takes to get what is being demanded. Some of the donors involved in organ trafficking are victims of body snatching or involuntary organ donations. Brokers will have the individual drugged and their organ removed without their consent to the procedure, they are also known for kidnaping poor and take whatever organ they desire and leave them there for dead. “Although estimates of trafficked persons are in their millions relatively few are identified” (Steinfall, T.M and Weitzer, R., 2011). Today brokers work with hospital staffs to locate poverty-stricken individuals to sell their organs for money. Some doctors often target children of poor countries in sell their organ in the black-market. In spite of its awareness, trafficking is still increasing. Trafficking a human organ is a growing profitable enterprise much like the unauthorized markets for weapons, humans, and drugs. Without the enforcement of laws against organ trafficking it is easier for an organ trafficker to buy and sell human organ increasing criminal
Despite the argument made by MacKay, there are additional actions that need to take place in order to legalize and introduce the buying and selling process of human organs in the United States. People need to be made aware of how many individuals are truly affected by an organ that will not function properly and understand the law that prevents the selling of organs. If a new law is passed, that legalizes the buying and selling of
First of all, an organ trafficking market has created due to remarkably high demand for body parts from all over the world. Many people refuse to donate their organs even after they die has
Over the last few decades, the number of patients on organ waiting lists in the US has continued to soar way above the number of organ donor. In some cases, patients have died waiting for organs from donors. According to available statistics, more than 100,000 patients are in the US transplant list waiting for organ donors. On the other hand, only 20% of these patients are likely to receive a legitimate organ donor and the fate of the other 80% lies in the balance (Rattenni 20). This shortage in the life saving organ transplant has led to a surge in illegal human trafficking cartels and black market vendor ready to exploit the desperate situation of these patients. In some cases, there have been cases of living donor ready to sale their organs for cash rewards.
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.
More than 110,000 people are on waiting lists for organs they may not ever get in time (mantel). This has caused an organ black market in which people are trading their or other individuals’ organs for illegal money. In case making criminals out of normal people. In 2009, the FBI arrested a Brooklyn rabbi for illegal organ trade, he was buying organs from overseas for a mere ten thousand dollars and selling here in the black market for upwards of one hundred sixty thousand (Krauthammer). An organ trade of some sort needs to become legal and people need chances to be compensated for their organs. Also with the market becoming legal, patients will be in better hands pre-operation and post-operation.
There are 112 thousand people on the organ transplant list and 22 people die every day because they cannot find a match ("Organ Donation Statistics", 2017). In 1984, under the National Organ Transplant Act, America outlawed the buying and selling of organs. If caught selling organs illegally, those involved shall be fined not more than $50,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both (Prohibition of Organ Purchases, 2011). With organizations like Planned Parenthood selling the body parts of aborted fetuses, the compensation of organs has been compared to prostitution. (Gebelhoff, 2015). If organ donors begin being compensated for their gifts of life, the Black Market organ trafficking will increase due to supply and demand of organs which in return creates a higher victim rate related to the black market. Offering money for organs can be viewed as an attempt to coerce economically disadvantaged Americans to participate in organ donation even though these groups of people have been shown to be less likely to be candidates, monetary incentives for organs could be characterized as exploitation (National Kidney Foundation, 2003). The Compensation of organ donation is unethical due to the acts by organizations such as Planned Parenthood, black market increases along with acts of cruelty towards unexpecting victims, and the increase in costs to perform the transplants.
Ever since organ transplant has been a success the supply for organs have been increased rapidly, still, there is an insufficient in donors. Therefore, many have preferred to sell their organs instead of donating them. However, Iran is the only country who allows organ sales while it is illegal for other countries. Moreover, selling organs could face the consequences of a five-year prison sentence. Hence, organ sales are creating business towards both the black and red market which is a bad influence towards the economy.
In fact, it is a very complex process that is beneficial to our society. It allows for numerous lives around the world to be saved. In fact, “Each day, about 79 people receive organ transplants” (Organ Donation: The Process). As with any controversial issue, there are myths that have arisen. Unfortunately, due to the complexity and opposing views, there is a scarcity of organs. “18 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs” (Organ Donation: The Process). This shortage has in turn led to a prevailing black market. If we continue to focus on solutions that can reduce the shortage as well as efforts to fix any controversial issues, perhaps organ donation will not lead to illegal activity. However, for now we shall focus on what we can do. Each and every one of us has the ability to improve this scarcity. Whether it be educating the public, becoming an organ donor or increasing technology, we can all help. What will you
In recent years, there been discussions about the underground economy concerning the illicit sales of organ retrieval services. Either by trade, sale or illegal stealing of organs the effects is widespread in foreign countries making way to the United States. The effects of this practice deeply affect many people who give into the hype of sacrificing self or others for payoffs, with the benefit not equaling to the value or the accommodations promised. The events happening, in foreign countries, affect the world and beyond because trends set standards not just where they begin, but who benefits. The correlation is if it sounds good and looks good, then why not tries it and reaps the perks. One particular scenario, which is causing such a trend in the world, is the selling of organs for money, which never in a million years will equal to human life. The game is to prey on the weak and poor by alluring those that sacrifice organs, an illusion of promises, perks or monies are the tactics used. When a person is preyed upon because of financial status or poverty struck, then the attraction is far greater for the seeker and the challenge is to retrieve the organ at any cost. What’s the solution for poverty stricken people who decide to sell, trade, or donate organs to a complete stranger for financial gain, perks, and the sacrifice of one’s life?
The legalization of organ sales has been proposed as a solution to two distinct problems. The first is the problem of illegal organ trafficking and the second is the problem of inadequate supplies of organs available for transplants. Gregory (2011) outlined the case for legalizing organ sales by arguing that the current shortage of organs fuels a black market trade that benefits nobody except criminals. He further argues that such a move would add organs to the market, thereby saving the lives of those who would otherwise die without a transplant, while delivering fair value to the person donating the organ. There are a number of problems with the view that legalizing the organ trade is beneficial. Such a move would exacerbate negative health outcomes for the poor, strengthening inequality, but such a move would also violate any reasonable standard of ethics, by inherently placing a price on one's life and health. This paper will expand on these points and make the case that we should not allow people to pay for organs.
In the United States, there are over one hundred thousand people on the waiting list to receive a life-saving organ donation, yet only one out of four will ever receive that precious gift (Statistics & Facts, n.d.). The demand for organ donation has consistently exceeded supply, and the gap between the number of recipients on the waiting list and the number of donors has increased by 110% in the last ten years (O'Reilly, 2009). As a result, some propose radical new ideas to meet these demands, including the selling of human organs. Financial compensation for organs, which is illegal in the United States, is considered repugnant to many. The solution to this ethical dilemma isn’t found in a wallet; there are other alternatives available