Developing an Organ Transplant Market Essay -- Medicine Medical Essays

Developing an harmonium Transplant Market According to a new book, The U.S. Organ Procurement System, written by economists David Kaserman and A. H. Barnett, there ar 80,000 Americans on the pipe organ transplant waiting list. Twenty of them die each(prenominal) mean solar day as a direct result of organ shortages thats everyplace 7,000 each year. These lost lives are not so much an play of God as they are an act of Congress because of its 1984 National Organ Transplant Act, that prohibits payment to organ donors. Reliance on voluntary donations, has been an lamentable policy failure. Its noteworthy that everyone else involved in the organ transplant military control is rewarded handsomely - that includes surgeons, nurses and organ procurement workers.How might an organ transplant marketplace work? Lloyd Cohen, a law professor at George Mason University, envisions let people contract in advance to permit the harvesting of any usable organs when they die. The money earned w ould become a start of their estate. Many people are offended by the notion of tender-hearted body parts becoming commodities for sale. Theres at least a midget bit of inconsistency because there is a market for human blood, seed and hair.How many vital things in our lives do we depend on self-sacrifice or voluntary donations to allow? Food is vital, water is vital so are clothing and housing. We dont depend on altruism and voluntary donations to provide these goods. And for good reason - thered be massive shortages. Why should we depend on altruism or voluntary donations to provide what we may one day need more urgently than food, water, clothing or housing? all in all objections to organ sales reduce to either nonsense, ignorance or arrogance. Lets look at some of them.One concern is that if organs are sol... ...r more sorry activity associated with alcohol manufacture, distribution and consumption than there is now. To the extent that bulwark of organ sales reduces thei r supply, holding all else equal theres greater incentive for illegal activities involving organ transplants, including murder.The medical profession has traditionally been opposed to organ sales. Their opposition would seem to be in violation of Hippocrates admonition - primum non nocere. however theyve recently taken steps, all be they timid, towards ending the day to day deaths due to organ shortages. At their July 2002 meeting, the American Medical Association voted system to commence trials in which payments will be made to organ donors or their families as a means to encourage cadaveric organ collections. exit CitedDavid Kaserman and A. H. Barnett, The U.S. Organ Procurement System