The Legalization of Organ Sales - 1450 Words

Introduction 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 ones life and health. This paper will expand on these points and make the case that we should not allow people to pay for organs. Living Donors The first major issue with respect to a legal organ market is the issue of living donors. Gregory extends the issue of living donation of semen, eggs and blood to include organs. This is false equivalency. The human body readily regenerates semen, eggs and blood; it does not regenerate kidneys. Living donors who sell their organs suffer negative health outcomes. While the body is engineered in such a way that kidney capacityShow MoreRelatedThe Legalization Of Organ Sales1412 Words   |  6 PagesDesperate to Live: A Definitional Essay on the Legalization of Organ Sales If there were family members or friends that were faced with a life or death situation, would they do everything in their power to get the help they needed? The easy answer would be yes; however, it is not that easy for many people. The issue here is that there is a higher demand for organs then they can supply causing people to become more and more desperate to survive. The article that will be examined is â€Å"Vera s KidneyRead MoreImplicit Concerns For The Legalization Of The Organ Sale1347 Words   |  6 PagesImplicit Concerns for the Legalization of the Organ Sale With the increasing need of organs for medical treatment, illegal organ black markets have become more rampant. Under such circumstances, the public debate over whether the government should legalize the sale of living human organs is fiercer. In Joanna MacKay’s essay Organ Sales Will Save Lives, she states that the government should legalize the sale of organs, since the legalization would benefit both the sellers and the buyers. MoreoverRead MoreWhy Legalizing Organ Sales Will Help Save Lives, End Violence1094 Words   |  5 PagesAnthony Gregory writes in â€Å"Why Legalizing Organ Sales Would Help Save Lives, End Violence.† Gregory argues in the article that organ sale should be legalized in the United States. Gregory discusses the different range of arguments that people have that are opposed to the legalization of organ sale. He explains that organ sale is creating unnecessary suffering for needy patients and â€Å"violence.† The problem with Gregoryâ€⠄¢s article is that he uses direct quotations and extreme accusations that have noRead MoreThe National Organ Transplant Act Of 1984884 Words   |  4 Pageswaiting 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. 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His lawyer claimed, â€Å"the transplants were successful and the donors and recipients are now leading full and healthy lives† because of the organ donationRead Moreorgans will save lives911 Words   |  4 PagesWriting Caitlin Pierpoint Summary of Organ Sales Will Save Lives In the essay â€Å"Organ Sales Will Save Lives† by Joanna MacKay, kidney failure is the main topic. In her thesis, MacKay states that, â€Å"Governments should not ban the sale of human organs; they should regulate it (92).† The thesis is supported by one main reason: it will save lives. In America 350,000 people struggle each year from this situation. MacKay also states that with the legal selling of organs, more people will be willing to giveRead MoreOrgan Of The Organ System1009 Words   |  5 PagesOrgan transplantation has been around for about 61 years. The first successful transplantation took place on December 23, 1954 by Dr. Joseph Murray and Dr. David Hume at Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. That transplantation being successful on that day has saved many lives to this day (â€Å"Transplantation†). The only legal way to get an organ transplant is through organ donation. In the United States alone, there are about 122,690 people on the waitin g list today and only 10,051 donors. EveryRead MoreThe Debate on Selling Organs780 Words   |  4 PagesThe debate on selling Organs Patients on a waiting list for organ transplant live under tremendous emotional stress, physical limitations, continuous medical care, and in some cases, under daily medical attention. Family members and close friend are also affected by watching their love one day-after-day live with limitations and medical needs that a simple pill can’t fix. Furthermore, the financial medical hardship creates even more unwanted stress. So it’s easy to see why family members would beRead MoreLegalizing The Sale Of Human Organs1246 Words   |  5 Pagesincreasing need of organs for medical treatment, illegal organ black markets become more rampant. Under such circumstances, should the government legalize the sale of living human organs? In Joanna MacKay’s essay Organ Sales Will Save Lives, after analyzing from both receivers’ and donors’ perspectives deliberately, she makes her own credibility to conclude that since there are potential donors and potential sellers that have a strong eager to trade kidneys, legalizing the sale of human organs would bringRead MoreEssay on Organ Sales1478 Words   |  6 PagesOrgan Sales: Legalize for the Greater Good Every day, numerous people across the world stop their lives for four hours to get hooked up to a dialysis machine at a hospital nearby. This machine helps to remove harmful wastes, toxins, excess salt, and water from their body because unfortunately their body cannot do so for them. These people wait on a list until they can one day receive a kidney transplant because kidney failure has resulted in their body not being able to clean their blood properly