Essay Sample: Organ Sales in the US

Organ sales have been a sensitive topic for many nations. There a lot of issues related to morality associated with this topic. The U.S is currently fighting against crimes that involve trafficking people for organ harvesting. Such vices are only present due to the strict rules that are associated with organ sales. Despite being illegal, organ sales will continue to increase in number due to the rise of chronic infections that require organ transplants. It is evident that the medical discipline continues to be complicated by the day. People get attacked by new diseases, a problem that medical professionals take time to counter. For this reason, organ donation has become the quickest way to combat infections on vital organs. However, there are few organs available in medical institutions. Even when possible, there is a list of recipients waiting for an organ transplant. Despite the perceived shortage, healthy people are willing to donate their organs at a fee. The situation is a paradox of sorts. The medical society has made it clear that people can sell some of their organic content such as a sperm or an ovum. However, in the case of a right kidney, all parties benefit except the donor. The medical personnel gets paid for their services; the recipient gets to live longer, while the donor only gets to enjoy the feeling of having saved a life. Were payments made available for donors, medical professionals would tend to more patients thus saving more lives (Marcovitz, 2010). Although organ sales in the US are currently illegal, regulating the sales of kidneys could decrease time on the waiting list, minimize cost to the government for dialysis patients, and increase the quality of life for donor recipients.

Firstly, regulating the sale of kidneys would have a positive impact on the crimes associated with organ sales. A relatable example in this situation is the legalization of marijuana in some American states. When something that was previously a taboo, people in society stop doing things behind closed doors. The same case applies to the case of organ sales. There are two significant facts in this case that require the regulation of organs: first, the list of people that need organ transplants increases by the day and second, the global economy today has left many individuals at near poverty socioeconomic status (Ackley, 2016). These two conditions can be described as extremes. To survive one needs to be in good health and financially stable. Merging these two concepts will see the lives of many people changed. However, the fact that organ sales are illegal has led to crimes associated with organ transplants. Criminals tend to take advantage of people's vulnerabilities to make profits. The forbidden nature of organ sales has led to increased murder rates due to the need to meet the demands of patients. The crime scope has moved from a local to an international setting. People from third world countries are smuggled into the U.S for organ transplants, and in return, they get to live in the country. The situation gets worse for the people that carry out these procedures are not certified physicians. Additionally, the environment in which the transplants put the donor and the recipient is at risk of further infections. Were organ sales regulated, individuals could voluntarily donate their organized in a friendlier environment at a fee? Consequently, the crime rates associated with murders and human trafficking would sharply decrease.

Secondly, time is an essential factor for a person that needs an organ transplant. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a patient is only listed on the waiting list once their organs reach end-stage organ failure. At this point, therapy cannot save a patient. There are many factors associated with when a patient receives treatment. These factors are such as the cost of obtaining the transplant, the technical capacity of healthcare to successfully deliver the transplant and the availability of the required organs. The stated factors are linked to gravitated extents. However, the determinant factor is the availability of the organs. According to research, more than 66,000 individuals require kidney transplants annually on a global scale (Shimazono, 2007). WHO has acknowledged that organ shortage is a worldwide problem that is linked to socio-cultural and legal factors. Countries such as the U.S have failed to meet the demand for organs. Consequently, when an organ is received, medical facilities charge a lot of money to efficiently carry out the transplants. The lack of organs also contributes to the inadequacy of technology and skills to carry out a transplant. Both developing and developed countries are now participating in international organ trade. This is a system that requires a patient to travel to another country to receive a transplant. These are hustles that could easily be avoided were organ sales regulated by the government. Regulation of organ sales would result in a continuous supply of organs. Consequently, more practitioners would seek the skill of organ transplant, the process would be cheaper, patients would receive attention at a far more accelerated rate, and the donors would get compensation for their organs. The current global shortage of organs would easily be eradicated as well.

Despite the arguments for legalizing of organ sales, the issue of moral principles is solid. It is the primary factor hindering the legalization of organ sales. Those against the argument are against the commercialization of human body parts. The sale of organs is well likened to prostitution where individuals expect monetary rewards for pleasing or helping other people. It could be argued that commercializing of body parts makes people less human. The primary motivation of selling an organ is to sustain oneself financially. This simple fact communicates the greed in society (Smith-Christopher, 2008). Human beings are willing to go to great lengths to remain economically stable. Additionally, the number of people that require transplants are growing in number; people only have one shot at donating their kidneys. It is correct to argue that the demand will never fully match the availability of organs. Selling organs is just a temporary solution to the medical chaos that the globe is facing. The medical world continues to meet new challenges daily. Within ten years, the number of people that require transplants will have increased significantly if solutions to the availability of organs will be non-existent. Lastly, crime rates related to organ harvesting could also rise. More people from third world countries would be willing to travel to the United States to donate their organs. Conclusively, it could be argued that regulating organ sales is only a temporary solution. Medical institutions should work towards finding alternative solutions for organ failure.

In conclusion, Organ sales have been a sensitive topic for many nations. There a lot of issues related to morality associated with this topic. The society is generally against the commercialization of the human body. The U.S is currently fighting against crimes that involve trafficking people for organ harvesting. It could be argued that regulating the sale of kidneys would have a positive impact on the crimes associated with organ sales. In essence, the more the government place emphasis on its illegality, the more criminals will be drawn to participating in the vice. There are two significant facts in this case that require the regulation of organs: first, the list of people that need organ transplants increases by the day and second, the global economy today has left many individuals at near poverty socioeconomic status. Crime rates will rise if these two problems are not allocated a solution. The U.S government should also consider the global organ shortage. WHO has acknowledged that organ shortage is a worldwide problem that is linked to socio-cultural and legal factors. Statistics show that more than 60,000 people require transplants annually. This could be corrected if more people sold their organs to save lives. Despite the arguments for organ sales, moral and legal influences hinder the actualization of controversial concept. Those against the argument are against the commercialization of human body parts. There have been debates on issues like prostitution. The skeptics of the idea like vices such as prostitution to organ sale (Bozeman, 2007). The fact that a monetary reward is a primary motivation towards donating organs kills the essence of the process. People have become too materialistic that they willingly sacrifice vital aspects of themselves so that they momentarily enjoy more material possessions.

References

Shimazono, Y. (2007). The state of the international organ trade: a provisional picture based on integration of available information. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 85(12), 955-962.

Bozeman, B. (2007). Public values and public interest: Counterbalancing economic individualism. Georgetown University Press.Marcovitz, H. (2010). Organ and Body Donation. ABDO.Smith-Christopher, D. L. (Ed.). (2008). Battleground: Religion [2 volumes]: Religion. ABC-CLIO.Ackley, K. A. (2016). Perspectives on Contemporary Issues. Cengage Learning.