Not Just Urban Legend

I am a liver transplant of going on 10 yeas. These 'sensational' articles about organ purchasing or some other negative aspect of transplantation only harms the process and discourages people from being donors.

Why not write about the thousands of people in this country that die each year because of the LACK of organs.

We should be born donors and if you don't like that have your name removed and then you will never have to donate anything but will never got an organ yourself.

What would stop this illegal activity is simple, enough voluntary donors!

Bad article and worse remarks, which shoes the ignorance that surrounds translation.

From a disabled Vietnam Vet

It should be left up to the individual if they want to donate an organ in their body. We own our bodies, not the gov't. I would certainly be in favor of donating for money.

no they don't . I agree but they want their portion of what money you do get for it...thas why giving with fair compensation won't be done. its unfortunate and I hope it will change one day...

The government does not own my body. I own my body. If I want to sell it or rent it or kill it, that's my business.

I work in Dialysis and the best outcome for our patient's is transplant. There are so many things that can go wrong even with a family member donation, you cough even a little and your date could be moved because you are then noted as being sick, and any illness can interupt the antirejection drugs, any little infection after transplant and you are back where you started. While I do not advocate the illegal black market of organs, why can't it be regulated just like a surrogate pregnancy is? While some people do donate altruistically, more people would do it if they were paid, just like donating eggs or sperm.

What's wrong with it? If the powers that be can't or won't create a legal market for the selling of organs, it will continue this way. Just like the selling of illegal drugs. Only until the powers that be create a legal market, the trafficking will continue. It's a no-brainer.

why shouldn't I (a healthy american woman) be compensated for undergoing surgery in my country. The actual organ is the gift, but going thru surgery, the recovery, off from work, the scar and pain...why should you do that for FREE? the doctors, facilities and so so don't inplant organs to the patients for free nor so they get free care or medications.

so many would be helped. I personally would be willing at 46 to give up a kidney for some great plastic surgery after bariatric surgery, keeping the weight off for 20 years, my kids are grown and I'd be having a huge scar anyway. I cannot afford or wouldn't spend family money on "just me" so why can't it be a win-win situation? I think things should be changed or items reviewed on a case by case basis...for people like me...or allow bartering for such a thing through the proper people, doctors and hospitals.
maybe one day!!

How much can I get if I donate my wife?

I don't understand why selling organs is inherently bad. Consenting adults should not be treated like children who need to be protected from themselves.

And if legalized and regulated, you wouldn't have people being swindled into dirty, ill-staffed hospitals or back alley operations. A kidney for 15,000 sounds like a good deal for both parties. And it would drastically reduce the outrageous waiting periods for transplants by creating an economic incentive rather than relying on altruism alone.

Beats being homeless.

Thanks for the article.
If I get laid off I see a way to stay on my feet.

Trafficking in organs, the sex trade, and sweatshops that enslave children is nothing new. The rich get richer-and healthy, while the poor get a royal screwing. Its ALWAYS been that way. Its not right though. Its immoral and f'd up.

The free market is the solution to basically nothing. The free market doesnt solve problems, its creates them, and perpetuates them. Modern medicine has gone too far if we have to actually discuss such a thing as organ trafficking. Its just another way that the rich can exploit the poor.

No, a free market for organs would be very dangerous as it would be hard to determine whether the sellers would really be giving up their intestines of free will or not.
http://anhouraday.blog.com

nawawimohamad:
1) You are dreaming if you think the US is a free country. Europe is closer, but not even.
2) It is no more a free choice for someone to sell their organs than it is a free choice for a women to become a prostitute. Yeah sure, in some cases there are exceptions, but in majority this is out of desperation rather than choice.

The US is a free country, free to do anything. Why worry about someone who wants to sell his/her own kidney?

Even though transplant centers have been harvesting organs from living donors for 50 years, there were NO rules, regulations or oversight of living organ donors until 2006 - and that's in the U.S. Even now, transplant centers have wide discretion, and virtually no consequences if they 'break' protocol....There is ZERO long-term data on the effects of being a living donor, yet the National Kidney Foundation and the medical community continue to say "a person can live a normal life with one kidney"... They CAN, but it doesn't mean they WILL. Some donors report chronic fatigue and lack of energy, intestinal lesions and chronic pain, just to name a few possibilities.... Transplants are not always successful, so imagine the psychological and emotional impact of a failed transplant on a donor, yet there is no support network or aftercare available at transplant centers.....And let's not forget that living donors can be denied insurance; they consider it a 'pre-existing condition'. So much for being heroes, right?

Here's what I always find interesting about the LIbertarian argument for free market organs. 1. They never bother to ask living donors their thoughts and opinions and 2. None of the people spewing the rhetoric are living donors themselves. Kinda kills their credibility.

Educate yourself at www.LivingDonor101.com

Even though transplant centers have been harvesting organs from living donors for 50 years, there were NO rules, regulations or oversight of living organ donors until 2006 - and that's in the U.S. Even now, transplant centers have wide discretion, and virtually no consequences if they 'break' protocol....There is ZERO long-term data on the effects of being a living donor, yet the National Kidney Foundation and the medical community continue to say "a person can live a normal life with one kidney"... They CAN, but it doesn't mean they WILL. Some donors report chronic fatigue and lack of energy, intestinal lesions and chronic pain, just to name a few possibilities.... Transplants are not always successful, so imagine the psychological and emotional impact of a failed transplant on a donor, yet there is no support network or aftercare available at transplant centers.....And let's not forget that living donors can be denied insurance; they consider it a 'pre-existing condition'. So much for being heroes, right?

Here's what I always find interesting about the LIbertarian argument for free market organs. 1. They never bother to ask living donors their thoughts and opinions and 2. None of the people spewing the rhetoric are living donors themselves. Kinda kills their credibility.

Educate yourself at www.LivingDonor101.com

Nice work if you can get it. Where can I sign up?