Organ trade is undoubtedly one of the biggest issues most countries are being faced with. On February 8th, five individuals were charged for allegedly being involved in the activity of illegal trafficking of dozens of kidneys for transplant. The illicit transplant network that included a re-known nephrologist obtained their kidneys by paying donors as much as $20,000 while the recipients on the other end paid five times as much for the transplant. The Costa Rican government announced the charges for the doctor and his team for their criminal activities. Organ sales is considered criminal as it is not legalized (LaSusa). This case brings shows the extent as to which organ sales or organ trafficking as legality would put it, has advanced and the value as to which thousands of persons are willing to pay to have these services performed on them.
Reasons for Legalization
Organ transplant involves the transfer of body organs across persons surgically. Transplant of organs aims at saving lives of people, and to others it’s a point in which an extra dollar could be made. All this brings about the positive impact in everyone lives. The illegal nature into which the organ trade is in makes it hectic and very difficult for such operations to be performed. Risks being too high if caught and sometimes too dangerous. The legalization of organ sales would be beneficial because it would reduce organ shortage, save lives and lessen black market crime.
Organ sales is a big beneficial requirement that ought to be extended to each person. The idea itself may establish itself as a neglect to most persons, but its it shouldn’t be basing on the fact that a lot of lives would be saved. The National Organ Transplantation Act of 1984 in the USA prohibits any compensation whatsoever to organ donors. And every year there are approximately 20,000 kidneys available for transplant and over 80,000 patients in need of the very kidneys. This sets out that overly half of the patients will not be able to receive the anticipated transplants and the very expectation that awaits them is death. According to Alexander Tabarrok, Independent Institute Research Director, millions of persons suffer from kidney disease and there are only a few thousands who are able to receive the necessary transplants (Gregory). Therefore, the legalization of organ sale would be able to lessen the gap of those who suffer due to lack of enough organs for them to be operated upon.
Black market crime is being steered up by the organ trade ban. Life being a precious gift makes each person strive to keep theirs. There are various reasons as to why there is more black market crime when it comes to organ trade than other trades. Anthropologist Monir Moniruzzaman, in an interview with kidney sellers asked them the reason they would be persuaded to sell their kidney and the answer was precise, “the trade connects wealthy transplant seekers with poor people.” black crime is fueled by two extremes. The rich trying their utmost best to save their lives, while the poor poor trying to do what they can to get food on the table. The major organ crimes done within the ranges of the black market is clearly due to the fact that the willing buyers and sellers haven’t been given a clear platform in which they can square out their needs. Also within the black market setting, most donors aren’t rewarded the much they are promised during negotiation. Most of them are either paid part of the money and some are never paid at all (Parry). Crime therefore going on within the black market is being fueled by the fact that all these persons cannot deal with each other on fair ground. It also poses a risk that all these people do not know who to trust within the expanse of the black market. There is no particular procedure as to which persons who wish to give out their organs in exchange for some type of compensation, be it money or any other form can follow to be assured of their getting what is expected of them in the end. Legalizing the trade of these organs will make it easier for those seeking transplants and those willing to have their organs in sale to do it in a more civilized and legal manner. It will also be able to ensure that those who have participated in the donation get their fair share of money in time.
Organ shortages is a big issue affecting most countries. In the United States alone, there are approximately 28,000 transplants that take place successfully leaving more than 120,000 people stuck in queues waiting. It is totally tragic that most of these people’s lives could easily go on normally had there been a legalization of the organ trade. The amount of donors willing to offer their kidneys up for someone else life to be saved has been countered a dozen more times by those who need the transplant. Most of these donors also donate to family members and close relatives thereby leaving the rest to fend for themselves. On the other hand, there are more who are willing to offer up their organs but at a fee. A fee which has been rendered not lawful and therefore they end retreating instead of saving a life. Wiser and better it would have been if the organ sale business would be made legal. This would allow each person that feels like gaining to do so. Those with the thought of raising themselves money out of it would do so out of their own will and that would ensure that there are enough organs in the market for transplant. It will also mean that more lives will be saved in return.
Reasons not to legalize
Even though the legalization of this trade holds much water, there is much that can go wrong. The legalization of this trade will co-currently bring about exploitation. Most persons who wish to involve themselves with the trade are usually because they have no other means in which they could be able to raise money. A bigger percentage of these people come from extreme poverty background and their hope is that the money earned from their organ sales would be able to buy them a ticked out of their state of poverty. Such persons are most likely to be exploited. Legalization of organ sale will lead to the rise of the number of donors in the market. On the other hand, the rise of donors will lead to the fluctuation of price. Prices will no longer be as high as they have always been when it comes to purchasing an organ and therefore those hoping to make a life out of their organs will no longer be able to do so. Exploitation will also be expressed when persons who are on the brink of death will only be seen as organ donors in the end. Most persons won’t be able to see much of their importance. The moral code of life that has been with the society ever since time immemorial will be lost. Humanity will no longer stand as each one will think of their lives as better than the others.
Social stigma will also result from the legalization of organ sale. Social stigma is the feeling of not being worthy as other people consider you or as you consider yourself to be. Stigma is brought about by various person. It can arise at the workplace, or still within the very circle of family and close relatives. Currently those donating organs to their families and close relatives are usually seen as heroes. Their action of giving out their parts to save another makes them better people. Every decision made by a donor is as a result of the expectation made out in the end. The hope that the person in whom their organ is being replaced is going to live longer. Unlike when organ sale is legal, heroism in terms of organ donation will lose its value and takes a different toll. Persons who are in need of these transplants will first of all look for desperate people who will most probably agree for an organ sale without much thought. Such persons are likely to be people with very low social status or most probably people who come from a very humble background. Most persons who will get to know that you ended up selling your organ for some cash will not see you as a hero that the recipient may see you to be but as one who was trying to make out a living for themselves. Nancy Scheper, an anthropologist acknowledges that on the many on the many stories that she has followed on persons who sell their kidneys the sellers end up suffering numerous consequences from their decision (Scheper). It all depends with the society one lives in. Also, there are a lot of other various better means in which organs could be harvested.
Conclusion
Organ trade that is being viewed as criminal at this time and age could bring into light far more benefits than the harm it is thought to bring if at all it would be legalized. The trade in itself is underway in the black market and even though it still prohibited to be done openly, it still goes on. High risk individuals get to purchase whatever they wish for and they go untouched. Those who end up rubbing shoulders with the law are the brokers who probably their main aim is to try and make a fortune out the sales. It would be proper for the government to give each and every person an opportunity to be able to express themselves openly without the fear of incriminating themselves with the law. Each person should be allowed to decide how they can benefit each other, either through donation of their organs willingly, or through a mere trade where everyone will leave happy having got what each person wanted.
Works Cited
Dvorsky, George. "How We'll Finally Put An End To Organ Donation Shortages". Io9, 2015, https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-well-finally-put-an-end-to-organ-donation-shortages-1683258349. Accessed 11 July 2018.
Gregory, Anthony. "Why Legalizing Organ Sales Would Help To Save Lives, End Violence". The Atlantic, 2011, https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/11/why-legalizing-organ-sales-would-help-to-save-lives-end-violence/248114/. Accessed 11 July 2018.
LaSusa, Mike. "Major Organ Trafficking Case Heads To Trial In Costa Rica". Insight Crime, 2016, https://www.insightcrime.org/news/brief/major-organ-trafficking-case-heads-to-trial-in-costa-rica/. Accessed 11 July 2018.
Parry, Wynne. "How Poverty, False Promises, Fuel Illegal Organ Trafficking". Live Svience, 2012, https://www.livescience.com/19237-illegal-kidney-organ-trade.html. Accessed 11 July 2018.
Scheper, Nancy. "The Market For Human Organs Is Destroying Lives". The Washington Post, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-theory/wp/2016/01/05/the-market-for-human-organs-is-destroying-lives/?noredirect=on"utm_term=.bff62bfc555e. Accessed 11 July 2018.
