by Charumati Haran
Organ trade refers to buying and selling of the inner organs like heart, liver, kidneys and cornea (eyes). First of all, let’s discuss the situation at present. There is a huge demand for organs all over the world. The demand is based on several factors including, but not limited to:
Supporters of organ trade argue that legalizing it will be instrumental in bridging the gap between demand and supply. At present, thousands of people die every year due to not getting an organ donor in time. Supporters suggest that monetary compensation will provide people a strong incentive to trade their organs if they can. They also feel that legalizing the trade will help those who desperately need organs and those who desperately need money to satisfy each others’ and their own needs.
Some argue that when practices like blood banks trade freely, there is nothing wrong with a trade in organs. On the other hand, proponents of free market economics also argue that the ban on trade be lifted to resolve the shortage. They also argue that this increase in supply will bring down the price of organs from the price which prevails during a shortage. This will discourage the spread of an illegal market in organs.
There are also numerous critics of organ trade. The illegal market in organs is the cornerstone of their arguments. Organs may not have appeared on eBay, but in many countries there is a flourishing trade in organs, particularly kidneys. Due to the excessive profits that are available in such trade, organ trafficking is on the rise. Two major factors seem to contribute to illegal organ trade: poverty and loopholes in legislation.
All over the world there have been many cases of illegal organ transplants, but prosecution is difficult. A new term, ‘transplant tourism,’ has developed to describe those who travel to another country to purchase an organ and get a transplant; it is always illegal. Critics argue that it widens the gap between the rich and the poor because only the rich can afford to buy organs. They contend that recipients usually come from weaker sections of society, who don’t have access to post-operative care.
There is a trend in many developed countries, like India, for the poor to sell their organs in the hope of paying off their debts. However, many studies show that economic and emotional well being and health of donors deteriorates making them worse off than before. Many such donors regret undergoing the operation, because they become unfit for physical labour.
One of the ugliest faces of this issue is organ trafficking. Weaker sections of society are lured with false promises of money into consenting for the procedure and subsequently cheated. There have been cases of patients who did not know that their organs had been removed. Finally, coercion is also a strategy used by the powerful to procure organs. Buyers of illegal organs are usually rich and are willing to pay huge amounts which make it very profitable for criminals.
Some also say that organ trade is different from trade of blood plasma, bone marrow and other components of the body since the body itself can easily replicate them without severe damage. Critics also argue that a free market system will encourage murders for organ theft, though it can be argued that this could be reduced with better law enforcement.
Different countries have taken different approaches to the problem of shortage of organs:
Heymann, Sven. "World Socialist Web Site." Dramatic Increase in Worldwide Illegal Organ Trade -. N.p., 14 July 2012. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/jul2012/orga-j14.shtml>
"UN.GIFT.HUB - UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking." Trafficking for Organ Trade. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://www.ungift.org/knowledgehub/en/about/trafficking-for-organ-trade.html>
Satel, Sally, and Jeremey Chapman. "Is It Ever Right to Buy or Sell Human organs?" New Internationalist All Posts RSS. N.p., 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://www.newint.org/argument/2010/10/01/human-organ-trade-debate/>
“A family which lost a 21-year-old son to an accident has bravely put its grief behind and come forward to give the gift of life to others. At its own initiative, the family asked doctors to harvest the son's organs - a decision that will help at least 34 people.”This excerpt is from an article by the Times of India on 12 December, 2012. While this is not the place to discuss whether organ donation is right or wrong, it does lead to the interesting topic of organ trade. When organ donation is so successful and needed, why not legalize organ trade and create a market in it? This article seeks to discuss organ trade and its economic implications.
Organ trade refers to buying and selling of the inner organs like heart, liver, kidneys and cornea (eyes). First of all, let’s discuss the situation at present. There is a huge demand for organs all over the world. The demand is based on several factors including, but not limited to:
- A growing population which directly implies more demand;
- Longer life-spans which means an ageing population, a segment which is more likely to need organs; and
- Unhealthy lifestyles which perpetuate conditions like diabetes that causes organ failure. In cases where the health system is substandard, early diagnosis and proper treatment is difficult.
Supporters of organ trade argue that legalizing it will be instrumental in bridging the gap between demand and supply. At present, thousands of people die every year due to not getting an organ donor in time. Supporters suggest that monetary compensation will provide people a strong incentive to trade their organs if they can. They also feel that legalizing the trade will help those who desperately need organs and those who desperately need money to satisfy each others’ and their own needs.
Some argue that when practices like blood banks trade freely, there is nothing wrong with a trade in organs. On the other hand, proponents of free market economics also argue that the ban on trade be lifted to resolve the shortage. They also argue that this increase in supply will bring down the price of organs from the price which prevails during a shortage. This will discourage the spread of an illegal market in organs.
There are also numerous critics of organ trade. The illegal market in organs is the cornerstone of their arguments. Organs may not have appeared on eBay, but in many countries there is a flourishing trade in organs, particularly kidneys. Due to the excessive profits that are available in such trade, organ trafficking is on the rise. Two major factors seem to contribute to illegal organ trade: poverty and loopholes in legislation.
All over the world there have been many cases of illegal organ transplants, but prosecution is difficult. A new term, ‘transplant tourism,’ has developed to describe those who travel to another country to purchase an organ and get a transplant; it is always illegal. Critics argue that it widens the gap between the rich and the poor because only the rich can afford to buy organs. They contend that recipients usually come from weaker sections of society, who don’t have access to post-operative care.
There is a trend in many developed countries, like India, for the poor to sell their organs in the hope of paying off their debts. However, many studies show that economic and emotional well being and health of donors deteriorates making them worse off than before. Many such donors regret undergoing the operation, because they become unfit for physical labour.
One of the ugliest faces of this issue is organ trafficking. Weaker sections of society are lured with false promises of money into consenting for the procedure and subsequently cheated. There have been cases of patients who did not know that their organs had been removed. Finally, coercion is also a strategy used by the powerful to procure organs. Buyers of illegal organs are usually rich and are willing to pay huge amounts which make it very profitable for criminals.
Some also say that organ trade is different from trade of blood plasma, bone marrow and other components of the body since the body itself can easily replicate them without severe damage. Critics also argue that a free market system will encourage murders for organ theft, though it can be argued that this could be reduced with better law enforcement.
Different countries have taken different approaches to the problem of shortage of organs:
- In India, the Transplantation of Human Organs Act was passed in 1994. Before this, organ trading was allowed in India, which brought in business from around the world, making India one of the largest kidney transplant centers in the world. However, problems cropped up in enforcing the laws allowing the trade and this, along with ethical issues, made the Indian government ban organ trade. Currently, donation of organs is allowed in cases in which the donor and recipient are related by blood or emotionally close.
- In China, sale of organs is banned. Organs are often procured from executed prisoners who sign agreements before execution.
- Some countries, like Brazil, Belgium and France, use a system of ‘presumed consent’. Organs are taken from the deceased unless their family actively opts out.
- In the United States, there is a system of incentives (usually in the form of tax breaks from the government) for people to donate their organs.
In conclusion, it seems that unless we can minimize the potential risks of organ trade, humanitarians only can take recourse to organ donation.
References
Ginzel, Arndt, Martin Kraushaar, and Steffen Winter. "The Illegal Trade in Organ Is Fueled by Desperation and Growing." SPIEGEL ONLINE. N.p., 03 Aug. 2012. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-illegal-trade-in-organ-is-fueled-by-desperation-and-growing-a-847473.html>
Heymann, Sven. "World Socialist Web Site." Dramatic Increase in Worldwide Illegal Organ Trade -. N.p., 14 July 2012. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/jul2012/orga-j14.shtml>
"UN.GIFT.HUB - UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking." Trafficking for Organ Trade. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://www.ungift.org/knowledgehub/en/about/trafficking-for-organ-trade.html>
Satel, Sally, and Jeremey Chapman. "Is It Ever Right to Buy or Sell Human organs?" New Internationalist All Posts RSS. N.p., 1 Oct. 2010. Web. 02 Jan. 2013. <http://www.newint.org/argument/2010/10/01/human-organ-trade-debate/>
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