Read and respond to two or more of your classmates’ posts:
1) Should people be allowed to sell a kidney?
People should be allowed to sell a kidney because everyone has freedom of choice. The choice to potentially save someone’s life. According to the Center for disease control and prevention, within this year “More than 1 in 7 US adults–about 35.5 million people, or 14%–are estimated to have chronic kidney disease” (2023). This goes to show that so many people in the United States alone are in need of a kidney transplant that can save their lives. By people willing to go through the process of donating their kidneys, it can take so many people off the list. As of today, there are a total of 103,651 people on the lifesaving organ transplant list (UNOS Data, 2023). Those in need of a kidney transplant usually wait years until they are able to have the procedure done. It’s important that with selling a kidney, there is a lot of factors to consider. Risk factors, lifestyle changes, finances, benefits, etc. However, through this whole process, a life is being saved at the end of the day. According to the National Kidney Foundation, … “Organ donors and their families who make the selfless decision to save lives through donation deserve a system that honors and preserves their life-saving gift.” (NKF, 2023). By creating foundations that help make the donation process easier, so many lives are being saved. Organ donors are giving a piece of their selves to help someone that in some cases they either or don’t know. Overall, people should be allowed to sell a kidney because it gives those who are in need of one another chance at life.
2) The Federal law prohibits the sale of kidneys in most countries. Some critics argue that allowing kidney sales could disproportionately affect vulnerable and economically disadvantage individuals, who may feel compelled to sell their organs due to financial desperation. This could create a market that exploits the poor and perpetuates inequality. The World Health Organization (WHO) opposes the sale of organs, including kidneys, due to ethical concerns. They emphasize the importance of voluntary and altruistic organ donation, highlighting the need for fair and equitable systems to ensure organ distribution based on medical need rather than financial needs. It is my belief that people should have the right to make decisions about their own bodies, including the ability to sell organs. However, I do understand and agree with the possibilities of exploitation, financial disadvantages and inequality issues. Sources such as American Medical Association (AMA) is also unfavorable of kidney sells. The largest association of physicians in the United States, opposes the sale of kidneys. They believe that organ transplantation should be grounded in altruism and the promotion of public trust. AMA argues that allowing organ sales could potentially lead to exploitation, inequality, and the commodification of the human body. On the other hand, a Stanford medical journalist by the name of Jennifer Huber wrote an article which gave a brief description of a debate that merged in the United States among some doctors, medical societies, and groups that oversee organ transplants it stated “In sum, having the government compensate kidney donors would be a win-win-win situation. Kidney recipients would enjoy much longer and healthier lives…” In conclusion, the sale of organs is a topic with varying views, but it is crucial to continue exploring ethical and regulated solutions to address the pressing issue of organ shortage and ensure the well-being of individuals in need of life-saving transplants.
