Organ Selling

Name Term paper for Health Economics, Econ 339 Kidney for Sale Is the Idea Legal, Ethical, or Economically Sound? Abstract Each year thousands of peck die while waiting for a kidney transplant. A merchandise for kidney deals is currently contra criminalised in nearly every country. This paper addresses the legal and honorable issues, as well as the economic effects that a legal commercialize would create. The sideline aspects of such a market were explored the ethical pros and cons the current bell ceiling for a legal kidney the current supply and demand of donor kidneys the dependable market set and the effect on supply and demand in a legalized market.The conclusion is that if paying a living donor can be make legal and as ethically acceptable as other(a) medical practices, kidney changes would be economically sound. Keywords Market for variety meat, Health Market Reform, Sales of Organs 1 Introduction Should organ sales be legalized in the United States? In todays soc iety, many slew ar suffering from diseases and conditions that supplicate an organ transplant in order to survive. The transplant list for those in need of a new organ such as a kidney seems endless. all(prenominal) day, nearly 74 people receive an organ transplant, while each day another 17 people die waiting for their transplant due(p) to the lack of donated variety meat (Friedman & Friedman, 2006). Why is the demand so large? Why are there not enough? Should some single be able to care his organ to a person in need? Is it legal, ethical or even economically sound to create a market for the sale of a kidney? What economic effects might there be if kidney sales were legalized? In the past few decades, immunosuppressive therapy and improved organ transplant expertise run through increased the survival calculate of kidney transplant patients (Ghod & Shekoufeh, 2006).For end stage renal disease (ESRD), transplantation, not kidney dialysis, has become the preferred treatment, b ecause it provides the patient with an improved survival rate and a better character of life (Ghod & Shekoufeh, 2006). In turn, the number of patients with ESRD existence treated by dialysis and waiting for transplantation continues to outstrip the donor pool of kidneys (Friedman & Friedman, 2006). The donor pool consists primarily of deceased donors and some live donors. Statistics show that only about 30% of Americans register to donate their variety meat after(prenominal) destruction (Knapp, 2005). over the past ten years, the number of deceased donor kidneys has not increased despite efforts by the National Kidney Foundation, State Drivers License promotions, and celebrity ad campaigns (Friedman & Friedman, 2006). In First World and middle-income countries, the demand for donor kidneys has increased. The populations of these countries live chronic and typically develop ailments such as hypertension and diabetes caused by obesity 2 scalawag which contribute to kidney failur e (The Economist, 2008). Fewer deaths from strokes, heart attacks and motor vehicle accidents pick up reduced the supply of mud donors (The Economist, 2008).Each year, the wait list grows longer. Figure 1 illustrates that the demand for kidney transplants has grget faster than the actual supply of kidneys. As of January 2007, there were nearly 95,000 people waiting for an organ transplant (Bramstedt, 2007). In a one year period, 7,000 people died waiting. Of those 7,000, approximately 4,000 were waiting for a kidney (Bramstedt, 2007). The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) predicts that by 2010, there will be nearly 100,000 people who will have to wait an average of ten years for a renal transplant (Bramstedt, 2007).If this trend continues, the supply of kidneys will never come closure to meeting the demand. Given this dilemma, it is necessary to at least consider other options to procuring the needed kidneys. 2 Legalizing Kidney Sales? A controversial solution is to lift th e banning on purchasing kidneys from live donors, or permitting some type of compensation to the families of cadaver donors (Castro, 2003). Currently, the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 (NOTA) deems the sale of organs culpable and those who are found guilty of this act could be fined or sentenced to prison (Mayes, 2003).This ban on kidney sales in effect makes the maximum legal price for a kidney $0 (Cloutier, 2007). This is called a price ceiling. Figure 2 demonstrates that only 20,000 kidneys would be supplied through donation when the price is $0. However, 80,000 are demanded. This leaves a shortage of 60,000 kidneys which is the passing between the quantity demanded and the quantity supplied when the price is $0 (Cloutier, 2007). 3 scallywag Whether or not to reverse or amend this act has been a athletic field of great debate. There are numerous legal, ethical, and economic questions that are being argued by an array of experts. . 1 The arguments against legalization Opponents of kidney sales argue that this type of market would exploit the worthless population (Erin & John, 2003). According to Nancy Scheper-Hughes, who is an anthropologist at the University of California, Berkeley, the demand for gay organs would feed off the desperation of the poor who she believes would supply the majority of the organs (Hall, n. d. ). Scheper-Hughes states, The organs are going one way. Theyre going from poor people to productive people, from Third World to First World or to rich people in the Third World (Hall, n. . ). Those who make this point believe it would be morally wrong for the wealthy to exploit the poverty of those who would supply the organs in a legalized market (Hall, n. d. ). A study of paid kidney donors in India showed that selling a kidney initially bettered their economic situation, but did not lead to a lifetime of economic benefit (Goyal, 2002). A second argument against legalizing kidney sales has been that the buying and selling of organs violates the dignity of the human person, and it treats the kidney like a good (Friedman & Friedman, 2006).Critics claim that the dignity of a human being is denied when his basic parts, such as kidneys, are sold even after he has died and no longer needs them (Castro, 2003). With respect to treating kidneys as a commodity, Scheper-Hughes who strongly objects to the legalization of kidney sales states, Its a question of whether you want to turn the body into a manufactory of spare parts that becomes simply comodified (Hall, n. d. ). Although there are a variety of other opinions for not legalizing kidney sales, the two previously mentioned are the ones that are most oftentimes argued. Page 2. 2 The arguments in favor of legalization Setting aside the major criticisms, some arguments in favor of kidney sales can be discussed. First, people have the self-direction or right to self-govern and make their have decisions about what is moral or ethical (Merriam- vanester Online Dictionary, 2008). Supporters of this opinion feel that it is not only ethical to sell a kidney, but a right because it is their body and their life. In his article, Biotechnology, Ethics and Free Markets, (2008) Julian Savulescu poses an interesting thought.He states, But if you own anything, have a natural right to anything, it is surely your own body. Indeed the fact that we can give organs and parts of our body away implies that we own them. cock-a-hoop implies ownership if we can give, we can sell (Salvulescu, 2008). People take all kinds of risks, including some for currency. Some may choose risky jobs because they have determined that the money out adjures the risk (Erin & John, 2003). Others risk damaging their body for pleasure by participating in activities such as smoking or skydiving (Erin & John, 2003).Their activities would not be banned or judged. Friedman sums up the autonomy argument for permitting kidney sales. He states, The case for legalizing kidney purchase hinges on the key premise that individuals are entitled to control of their own body parts even to the point of inducing risk of life (Friedman & Friedman, 2006). A second reason that supports the legalization of kidney sales is financial incentives would lead to to a greater extent donations, which in turn would observe more lives. Dr. Arthur Matas proposes a plan in which donors would be able to sell a kidney.The government would set a price and the expenses would be paid for by the recipients health damages, which would usually be Medicare (Perry, 2007). The sellers would be screened both medically and psychologically prior to the transplant. They would then be followed to determine the impact the sale had on their lives as well as their health (Perry, 2007). Mark J. Perry, a professor of economics and finance at 5Page the University of Michigan, uses economics to show how a proposal such as Matass could increase the number of organs available for transplant. He explained that whenever there are shortages, market pricing is absent.Market pricing will reduce or eliminate shortages. Therefore, market pricing for kidneys would eliminate or reduce the shortage and save thousands of lives every year (Perry, 2007). A fair market minimum price, much like a minimum wage for labor, would prevent the poor from being taken receipts of, and give buyers a chance at life (Savulescu, 2008). A fair market price of $45,000 was suggested by the Nobel laureate (in economics) Becker (Savulescu, 2008). He based this fair market price on an average annual salary of $40,000, which would be a lifetime income of 3 million (Savulescu, 2008).He calculated the risk of death at 1%, and a 5% decrease in the quality of life during the recovery period, which equaled $7,000 (Savulescu, 2008). He adjusted the price of the fair market after calculating the true risk of death at about 1/300. This made the final fair market price $20,000 (Savulescu, 2008). Figure 3 illustrates what would devolve if the ban on kidney sales was lifted (Cloutier, 2007). The graph indicates that at $30,000, the amount of kidneys supplied would meet the number of kidneys demanded. Also, as the amount of money paid per kidney rises, the number of kidneys supplied would increase.Therefore, the equipoise would be reached at $30,000 thus eliminating the shortage (Cloutier, 2007). In short, payment for kidneys equals lives saved. The third reason to permit the sale of kidneys is that it would be a financial benefit for an insurance company or Medicare (University of Maryland medical examination Center, 2006). Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine determined that a kidney transplant not only improved the quality of life for their patients, but it also saved money (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2006).They found that it was cheaper to have a transplant than to stay on 6Page kidney dialysis for years until a donor match was found (University of Maryland Medical C enter, 2006). In fact, the researchers discovered the break even point was 2. 7 years, which saved the infirmary about $27, 000 per year, per patient (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2006). Perhaps, even more significant was the finding that the use of living donor kidneys decreased costs because they functioned better than cadaver kidneys right after transplant (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2006). 3 AssessmentA review of both sides of this issue leads to the conclusion that selling a kidney should be legal and ethical, and it would be economically favorable because it would benefit thousands of people. The first opposing view was that a market for kidney sales would exploit the poor population. This argument is imperfect because being poor does not make a person incapable of making a rational decision (Friedman & Friedman, 2006). They are certainly able to weigh the risks of this choice. According to Savulescu (2008), If altruistic donation is safe enough, then co mmercial donation should be just as safe if it is legalized. Also, keeping the poor population from being donors prevents them from improving their financial situation (Friedman & Friedman, 2006). Finally, the gap between supply and demand for a kidney also concerns the poor because it creates a situation where someone could take advantage of them (Economist, 2008). If a legal market was regulated, there would be less possibility for black market activities because there would be no direct sales or purchases. Therefore, there would be no exploitation of the poor in other countries (Erin & John, 2003).The second argument against legalizing kidney sales is that the buying and selling of organs violates the dignity of the human person, and it treats the kidney like a commodity (Friedman & Friedman, 2006). This position is also flawed. Savulescu (2008) states, Where a 7Page fair price is set, sellers are making judgments about how to promote their own well-being and other values. This i s the expression of human dignity to be autonomous. Treating the kidney as a commodity is no contrastive than the sale of hair, eggs, blood or semen.Currently, the sale of these bodily materials is legal and ethically accepted despite the fact that they are sold by an unequally large portion of people who are poor (Castro, 2003). 4 Conclusion If paying a living donor can be made legal and as ethically acceptable as other medical practices, kidney sales would be economically sound. Establishing a fair market price for a kidney would address concerns about equity and prevent exploitation by those in an illegal market (Savulescu, 2008). A fair market price would also likely entice more people to sell a kidney.This in turn would increase the supply, decrease the demand and eliminate the shortage. References (2008, October 9). The gap between supply and demand. Retrieved November 27, 2008, from Economist. com Web site http//www. economist. com/world/international/ displaystory. cfm? st ory_id=12380981 Autonomy. (2008). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. Retrieved November 28, 2008, from http//www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/autonomy Bramstedt, K (2007). Checklist Passport, plane ticket, organ transplant. American Journal of Transplantation. 7(7), 1698-1701. 8Page Castro, L. D. 2003). Commodification and exploitation Arguments in favor of compensated organ donation. Journal of Medical Ethics. 29, 142-146. Doucet, B (2008). Kidney kingpin case highlights practical & ethical arguments for free markets. Retrieved November 25, 2008, from Quebecois Libre Web site http//www. quebecoislibre. org/08/080210-4. htm Erin, C. A. , & Harris, J (2003). An ethical market in human organs. Journal of Medical Ethics. 29, 137-138. Friedman, A. L (2006). Payment for living organ donation should be legalized. BMJ. 333, 746-748. Friedman, E. A. , & Friedman, A. L. , (2006).Payment for donor kidneys Pros and cons. Kidney International, 69, 960-962. Ghods, A. J. , & Savaj, S (2006 ). Live kidney organ donation Is it time for a different approach?. Clinical Journal of American Society of Nephrology. 1, 1136-1145. Goyal, M, Mehta, R. L, Schneiderman, L. J, & Sehgal, A. R. (2002). Economic and health consequences of selling a kidney in India. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 288, 1589-1593. Hall, Joseph (n. d. ). Opening up the market for organs Support grows for selling body parts, donors for profit dont really benefit. Toronto Star.Knapp, T (2005, April 4). Organ agonistes. Retrieved September 17, 2008, from Free-Market News Network Web site http//www. freemarketnews. com/ abbreviation/118/1275/April-4 2005. asp? nid=1275=118 9Page Mayes, G (2003). Buying and selling organs for transplantation in the United States. Medscape Transplantation, 4(2), Retrieved November 23, 2008, from http//www. medscape. com/viewarticle/465200_print Perry, M (2007, December 13). Markets in everything Organ sales. Retrieved November 24, 2008, from Carpe Diem Web si te http//mjperry. blogspot. com/2007/11/ markets-ineverything-organ-sales. tml Savulescu, Julian (2008, September 8). Biotechnology, ethics and free markets. Retrieved November 29, 2008, from University of Oxford Web site http//www. practicalethicsnews. com/practicalethics/2008/06/setting-a-minim. html Savulescu, Julian (2008, June 19). Setting a minimum price for the sale of organs. Retrieved November 29, 2008, from University of Oxford Web site http//www. practicalethicsnews. com/practicalethics/2008/06/setting-a-minim. html 10 P a g e Appendix Figure 1 Illustrates that the wait list rises at a faster rate than the total number of transplants. character (Cloutier, 2007). Figure 2a A price ceiling of $0 is established due to the ban on kidney sales. Source (Cloutier, 2007). 11 P a g e How many kidneys are demanded at P=$0? 20,000 kidneys supplied (donated) at P= $0 80,000 kidneys demanded at P= $0 Figure 2b How many kidneys are supplied and demanded when the legal price is $0. So urce (Cloutier, 2007). What would happen if the ban on kidney sales was lifted? Figure 2c Shows what would happen if the ban on kidney sales was lifted. Source (Cloutier, 2007). 12 P a g e