Kidney Market: Sale of Human Organs Goes Against Everything We Believe In

Kidney Market: Sale of Human Organs Goes Against Everything We Believe In

Despite the effectiveness of organ transplants, the increasing supplies cannot keep up with the increasing and flooding demands. In an effort and hope to solve such situation, many have argued for an open market for buying and selling of kidneys. Regardless of the immediate and short-sighted benefits of the introduction of the market, people do not realize how detrimental the downsides are. It is undeniable that we must not permit the buying and selling of kidneys in an open market. In this paper, we will explore the main reasons why an open market of kidneys exchange should be banned.

Current system set up for organ donations allow organs to go the most emergent people; the system guarantees organs to go to the people in the most critical need of those organs. This allows the entire system and organization to be run through a fair and safe means. However, if we were to bring in the new system and allow for an open market to buy and sell kidneys, we would be eliminating the benefits of the current system and may be putting the people really in need of the kidney in extreme danger. Yet another corresponding problem that may arise with an introduction of such system resides with money problem. While it is true that such open market will have regulations and rules to differ the organization from black market and keep order, the involvement of money will result in unfairness among people. For instance, since the number of kidneys out in the open market is also limited, people will compete to purchase the kidneys available which gives the rich advantage over the poor.

Those who argue for on an open market may say that this will be a simple solution to many who are in need of kidneys but not are at the top of the list. However, what one must realize is the fact that putting a price on kidneys will hinder the poor from purchasing which cannot be considered as a solution for the majority of people. For instance, if “A” only had set budget up to $5000 and was in a critical state, and “B” were to have no maximum yet in a better than state than “A”, it is obvious that “B” who has greater budget to spend will obtain the kidney. This situation then begs one question: “What good does the open market do for the poor?”, or “Where must the poor rely on or resort to?”. The main purpose for an additional organization that provides kidneys to people must be in order to solve the depletion of kidneys.

        Reasons for open kidney markets to be banned does not stop here, yet extends to ethical issues. In order for people to buy and sell kidneys, kidneys must have a price set on them. However, from a ethical and moral perspective, kidneys cannot have set values placed on them. Not only does it go against all the moral values that we believe in, but may be out in the market for inappropriate reasons. Those who decide to sell their kidneys may not be informed with all the knowledge needed to make certain and valid decisions or they may be selling for the money. I believe that in order for the open market to function with order, the core value in this foundation of the open market should be altruism. However, if one were to sell because they are in desperate need of money, it not only violates our beliefs, but also contradicts them.