Compensation for Living Human Organ Donation is Unethical

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Compensation for Living Human Organ Donation is Unethical

As technology continues to progress the feasibility of organ transplantation becomes a commonplace. It is very common for organs to be donated after one passes if it is the wishes of the deceased. As the supply of organs from the deceased is greatly outnumbered by the number of patients on waitlists living donors becomes an issue. Many times a relative or close friend is willing to give up an organ to help save a life. The question is: Is it ethical to accept a monetary payment in exchange for an organ to save a life?

Organ donation started out as simply “donation” or the act by which a person voluntarily transfers the title to a thing of which be is the owner, from himself to another, without any consideration, as a free gift (Dictionary.com). A person is giving out of the goodness of their heart; donors did not expect anything in return for giving a part of them to help save a life. In Organ Grinders, Artie makes a living from selling she replenish able fluids such as, blood, plasma, and semen. Artie is asked in the book to give one of his testicles in exchange for money. He willingly agrees, and the operation proves to be a success in the book. This brings up the argument if it is morally ethical to sell your organs for a profit. Currently in most Western Countries including the European Union, The United States, and China, statutes have been put in place forbidding the purchase and sale of human organs (Cameron 724). Overall as a whole society looks at human organ sales as unethical and morally wrong.

There have been a few proposals to having a successful way of buying and selling organs just as we sell our bodily fluids. T...

... middle of paper ...

...uld be unmoral and unethical to carry out. Even with the technology available today, the humanistic nature of people to be greedy will overcome their kindheartedness to give the gift of life to one another. The resale of human organs from living donors should continue to remain illegal around the world.

Works Cited.

Cameron, J. Stewart and Hoffenberg, Raymond. “The ethics of organ transplantation reconsidered: Paid organ donation and the use of executed prisoners as donors.” Kidney International. Vol 55. p724-732. 30 November 2003.

Howards, Lawrence A. “Ethics of Organ Donation.” JSOnline Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 20 June 1999. p4. 30 November 2003. http://www.jsonline.com/alive/column/jun99/howard62099.asp>

“New Safeguards for Living Organ Donors.” ConsumerAffairs.com. 25 April 2003. p3. 30 November 2003.

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