Mini Good News | August 11, 2009 | 58 comments

Should Organ Donors Be Paid?

source: http://www.livescience.com/health/090810-organ-donation-incentives.html

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DeliaTheArtist
"The recent arrest of a businessman accused of buying and selling kidneys in the United States, a scandal unearthed on July 23 as part of the New Jersey corruption investigation, has drawn attention once again to the ever-growing organ shortage in this country.

Over the years, the number of people waiting for an organ in the U.S. has soared upward, increasing from 31,000 people in 1993 to over 101,000 today, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, the non-profit organization that keeps track of all the transplants in the U.S. As the shortage grows, the dilemma remains, how can the number of donations be brought up to meet the need? Some think this supply-and-demand problem could have a financial solution — provide incentives to donors.

Of course, selling organs in the U.S. is against the law. The National Organ Transplant Act, passed in 1984, states that human organs cannot be exchanged “for valuable consideration,” meaning something of monetary value. But for years, members of the transplant community have debated the idea of providing incentives to organ donors, such as tax credits or even direct payments. However, some fear that these types of incentives could lead to an unregulated market for organs and is not worth the risk. While implementation of incentives is likely far off, the issue has divided the transplant community, and no clear consensus exists.

Imagine if people were not just reimbursed, but actually paid for their kidneys. Some people think that a regulated system could be put in place in which true financial incentives — ones that result in financial gain — are provided to donors. This incentive could be a cash payment, or something less direct, like lifetime health insurance.

One of the biggest fears with introducing financial incentives is that it might lead to an organ market and create a situation in which the rich could exploit the poor for organs.

“Once you insert monetary gain into the equation of organ donation, now you have a market. Once you have a market, markets are not controllable, markets are not something you can regulate,” says Delmonico. “The problem with markets is that rich people would descend upon poor people to buy their organs, and the poor don’t have any choice about it.”

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What do you think? Should living organ donors be paid? Would it create an unstable body part market?
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  2. tags:
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58 comments // Should Organ Donors Be Paid?

  • Bill_Blankenship
    • 0
      Bill_Blankenship  

    • I have a rare blood type and think people should have some monetary incentive to donate. I'm thinking there are legal ways you could get paid for a kidney if both parties agree. Call it a "GIFT" or something. I am interested in donation and could use some extra $ Please get in touch of me.

    • 16 days ago
  • maof4brats
    • 0
      maof4brats [removed]  

    • I really think maybe if it would save more peoples life. It is a very time consuming task to let say donate a kidney I knew a fellow nurse who donated one of hers. She lost alot of money having to go to the womans hospital.I know people do it for good reasons. Hey if I would die i would not want my family gitting money but if you get paid for the time I have no problem with it but it shouldn't be a requirment.

    • 2 years ago
  • greenchimpanzee
    • 0
      greenchimpanzee  

    • as many of you have already said: there is a shortage of organ donors. Paying organ donors would motivate people to give their organs thus making less of a shortage. If you don't pay people, you have more of a shortage. It's really simple when you get down to it.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • greenchimpanzee
  • VROTK
    • 0
      VROTK  

    • Problem is that adding monetary incentive will make animals out of us. Soon, patients will be bidding for the next available heart, and the winner will of course be the highest bidder with the most money. If the so-called "donor" isn't satisfied with what's offered for the organs, he/she will simply get the patient's hopes up and retract from donating, or rather selling, his organs. Uncotrollable bargaining, threatening, and outright mercilessness will play huge roles if a market system for organs were to ever be established.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • bombastinator
  • cattheawesome
  • stephenk29111
    • 0
      stephenk29111  

    • stupid period.

      you're an organ donor because you want to do something special to impact someone's life who needs your organ to save their own.

      Self satisfaction and obviously their gratitude should be enough , but apparently not in this day an age. Everything has to revolve around money with people it seems.

      Lets break it down.. Organ Donor's (Donor's/Donations/Free) Hmmm did i miss something?

      The only thing I'd want to see if i gave someone my kidney or something is to not fuck it up is by becoming an alcoholic two months later.

    • 2 years ago
  • zndr27
    • 0
      zndr27  

    • you know my friend had a funny idea today...

      if congress was voting on these billion dollar plans to improve the economy why don't they just give us all a million dollars

      would never happen, but interesting to think about

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
    • 0
      dariusvons  
    • zndr27:

      or instead of giving us all millions, how about they just stop taking half my paycheck so maybe I could afford a dorctor, or a house, or anything that would help the economy. just a thought.

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
    • 0
      dariusvons  

    • we should be free to sell anything we own, and if we can't sell our bodies, then that means we don't own them... someone else must, this is slavery.

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
  • couldntfindausername
  • superhootie
    • 0
      superhootie  
    • dariusvons:

      Easy, guy. I never called anyone an idiot and I never said to outlaw paying for donations. I'm bringing up topics for debate. That's all.

      I work in the medical field and care for post-operative patients everyday. I care for those who are donors as well as those who need donations.

      I'm not sure how much hospitals make off organ donors. I don't think they are contracted in that way with the donor banks.

      I consider it one of my duties to be a patient advocate. I'm pro-saving lives and pro-protecting lives.
      In a perfect world, this would not be a debate. Someone needs an organ, you give it to 'em.I f a patient wants to donate, I'll get the ball rolling for them. Simple.

      But this is not a perfect world and there are logistics and collateral to consider.

      I agree with you on the aspect of owning our bodies and doing whatever we want with them. For example, I am pro-choice, pro-decriminalize prostitution and pro-decriminalize marijuana, just to name a few of my stances.

      I appreciate you ferociousness in keeping people aware of our freedoms of choice.

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
  • bombastinator
    • 0
      bombastinator  
    • dariusvons:

      Does that mean I can, say legally pressure you into selling? Because it will happen.

      Imagine if you will a credit card company that seeks out as customers people who would make good organ "donors" All they have to do is get the person in question into debt.

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
    • 0
      dariusvons  
    • dariusvons:

      yes. my organs are for sale... but for the right price, and no amount of 'pressure' could sway me to part with them for anything less than what I think they may be worth. gievn my health and age, I'd say I my tissue and organs could fetch a great price (for me), top shelf quality. given that fact alone, I don;t think anyone could pressure me into parting unwillingly.

      yes I'd gladly sell my tissues and organs and have, but so far only for research perposes (legal) and not for transplant. I doubt I'd ever just donate them to anyone outside of my family... sister, brother, mother, father... sure I'd donate to them. it's my choice. but for some jerk who just happens to pay his way through the 'donor' list... that guy would have to pay me.

    • 2 years ago
  • settler
    • 0
      settler  

    • The Economist and the Ayn Rand Institute approved and advocated a legal market elsewhere. They argued that if 0.06% of Americans between 19 and 65 were to sell one kidney, the national waiting list would disappear (which, the Economist wrote, happened in Iran).

      Check out the article for more information.

      -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

      For me this is a very critical point. If money is in the game, it creates business, therefore opportunities to make more money out of it. Maybe there will be an exchange market, where you can buy shares where prices for organs dynamically adjust like other goods: sugar (which is at the moment rising), oil, etcetera. If there’s a shortage prices will rise. You know how it works.

      I think it is too dangerous.

    • 2 years ago
  • Elevator
    • 0
      Elevator  

    • If you got paid it wouldn't be a donation would it?

      But yeah its your body you should be able to do anything you want with it. How nuts is it that in a "free country" this most basic human right is even debatable?

    • 2 years ago
  • Numbz
    • 0
      Numbz  

    • Why not? I mean, they pay you for your plasma, right? If you're healthy and want to help someone live, you should be rewarded in some way for donating your organ.

    • 2 years ago
  • xiola
    • 0
      xiola  

    • My initial reaction was, "why not?" Then, I thought about it and several "why-nots" came to mind. I think ALLNATURALVEGANS and CharlieG stated it well. And in that set up, only rich people would receive organ transplants. Kidney to the highest bidder. Not very fair.

      But, then, I guess people would be more inclined to give up a spare organ if they could get some cash. All these college kids would be lining up selling their organs for beer money! :)

    • 2 years ago
  • Hunnter
    • 0
      Hunnter  
    • Image

    • I'd certainly sell an organ if i got a fair price for it. (fair not being a high number any way, i get along fairly well as it is)

      But fear of the unknown prevents me from doing it.
      I'd rather like to live for as long as i possibly can in this messed up body of mines.
      If i could replace any of my organs with an artificial one that requires very little maintenance, then i would give it up in a heartbeat.
      So, i'd happily give up some bones for donation since there are fairly decent replacements, titanium being the main one, and a "burnt and treated wood" replacement in testing right now.
      And if i remember correct, there is a heart replacement as well, but i'm not even sure how that is going anymore.
      Yep, found it, t'is the one i remember (linked). Anyone need a heart? :)

      Not sure whether or not my over-active immune system will influence my acceptance or not. "Opposite-AIDS" is nasty...

    • 2 years ago
  • ALLNATURALVEGANS
    • 0
      ALLNATURALVEGANS  

    • Most people can barely afford to pay for the surgery, let alone to pay for an organ... these things are priceless and you should donate out of the goodness of your heart, not for money! If you were lucky enough to be born healthy that should be "payment" enough!

    • 2 years ago
  • taraSG
    • 0
      taraSG  
    • ALLNATURALVEGANS:

      It would be wonderful if everyone felt that way but they don't. The reality is that people are dying on the donor list every day and we could have more people giving life saving organs.

      It's not like there isn't someone making money off the system the way it is now. Unfortunately the money is only going to the hospital and the labs instead of the people risking their life to save another.

    • 2 years ago
  • Future_America
    • 0
      Future_America  

    • There's already a black organ market full of unqualified doctors ripping organs out of people for quick cash. Maybe if organ donors got paid that would take away business from the black market.

    • 2 years ago
  • Ish05
  • dariusvons
  • Ish05
    • 0
      Ish05  
    • Future_America:

      Why don't you clue me in. I see first hand that most of this "legalize it" crowd is just interested in getting high legally. If there was any reform that legalized hemp for industrial purposes, and not for consumption, you would still have the junkies crying about their right to get high. Or do you think I'm mistaken?

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
    • 0
      dariusvons  
    • Future_America:

      "pot junkies" is where you have no clue... there is no such thing as 'junkie' when it comes to pot. if you disagree then you're naive about drugs in general and sorely qualified to make such a statement.

    • 2 years ago
  • stopnoise
    • 0
      stopnoise  

    • I think there is where the corruption on Health Care really starts and that it is one more reason to stop making the human body a product for profit. Insurances Co. and other medical institutions harvest body organs from donors then turn it for profit to the higher bid. Just think about it!

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • That last idea there about rich decending upon the poor has me say no.

      "You don't have any money. I'll give you 5,000 for one of your child's kidneys. "

      And the poor parent would honestly think about it because they have to pay for food and the housing and their child could live off of one kidney.....ok like.

      OR even if a child is in a coma and a rich person comes along and says they'd give a million dollars for the child's heart the parent would think about it......especially if the child has been in a coma for over a month.

      People would look like dollar signs more than humans.

      The idea would be nice because people would donate to get something out of it, but the bad thing is that there are those that are terrible humans who'd do almost anything to get money and pay anything to cheat death.

      Paying is a bad idea.

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
    • 0
      dariusvons  
    • J_Jammer:

      sure, there is the problem of the wealthy pulling leaverage on the poor over this, but still, MY organs and tissues, are mine and nobody elses, to say I'm not allowed to sell them or do what I want with them is slavery (not in the sense of labor but ownership), we all should be allowed to sell traid, barter, burn, eat, destroy, or whatever anything that is ours.

    • 2 years ago
  • settler
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • J_Jammer:

      Thank you.

      dariusvons --- There are no laws that keep people from doing anything that they don't already want to do. But one cannot control the damage that would occur should they make this legal. People would justify their actions under an ambiguous law and fight it out in court and then clog up the system and make matters worse for situations that are far more important than if someone got paid for their donated blood or not.

    • 2 years ago
  • biggranny
    • 0
      biggranny  

    • my daughter suffers from kidney disease. no matter how my husband and i wring our hands we would never consider buying or selling ANY organ.

    • 2 years ago
  • TabulaRasa
    • 0
      TabulaRasa  

    • I give blood every two months and I would most definitely give organs as well.... difference is of course that your organs won't come back. I save my organs for those that are close to me, if something may happen to them, I am more than willing to give up an organ.

      Paying for the procedure and missed work would definitely not be enough for something you won't get back and won't have later for those you love.

      +: How much do hospitals make off of your donation?

    • 2 years ago
  • superhootie
    • 0
      superhootie  

    • Paying organ donors takes advantage of a donating person's financial situation. Some of the procedures involve a medical risk. Those risks may not be taken seriously by the donor if they are valuing $$ over health risks. It's not safe.

      On the other hand, it shouldn't be illegal. If the cost of the procedure plus time missed from work was covered, I don't see the harm.

    • 2 years ago
  • TabulaRasa
  • bombastinator
    • 0
      bombastinator  
    • superhootie:

      The problem is that market forces do not apply to life saving organs. They have infinite value.

      Suppose I want, nay, MUST have your kidney. You are my only match. Yet you don't want to sell.

      I however am much richer than you. Rich enough for instance to buy your employer and have you fired. Rich enough say to buy your mortgage from your broker and foreclose.

      You really think you can keep that kidney? Or an intact liver? Or maybe even a heart if you have a wife and kids?

    • 2 years ago
  • delas78
    • 0
      delas78  

    • If you're getting paid, it's not exactly "donating". But I guess people get paid to "donate" blood.

      Donating blood doesn't seem to be frowned upon.

    • 2 years ago
  • ALLNATURALVEGANS
  • xiola
  • good_stuff
    • 0
      good_stuff  
    • delas78:

      They don't pay for blood, only plasma. I looked this up once, because I was courious and it turns out that they stop paying because they get a higher quality blood if it comes from volunteers (no incentive for drug addicts to lie).

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • delas78:

      That adds something interesting.....

      If they started paying for organs then that would (as with blood) raise the quota of bad organs being sold without being checked....

      ...more and more the idea of selling just makes greed take over more so than care.

    • 2 years ago
  • CharlieG
    • 0
      CharlieG  

    • The surgery is costly enough & insurance may not pay for it all. Most recipients can't afford that much less the cost of paying for an organ.
      BTW I am a donor recipient...

    • 2 years ago
  • ALLNATURALVEGANS
    • 0
      ALLNATURALVEGANS  
    • CharlieG:

      I completely agree with you, most people can barely afford to pay for the surgery, let alone to pay for an organ... these things are priceless and you should donate out of the goodness of your heart, not for money! If you were lucky enough to be born healthy that should be "payment" enough!

    • 2 years ago
  • mixmaster
  • JasonHarper
  • taraSG
    • 0
      taraSG  

    • I believe people should be able to sell their organs. Those who are wealthy already have an advantage in the donor system the way it is.

      I don't think we should eliminate the donor program. Just add to it.

      If you can sell your eggs and sperm to make life, why can't you sell your organs to save a life?

    • 2 years ago
  • Ish05
  • taraSG
    • 0
      taraSG  
    • taraSG:

      I'm not saying I would only donate for money, but you can't deny that there are many in the US that feel that way. I just don't think it should be illegal to sell your own organs if you want to. I think it would save a lot of lives.

    • 2 years ago
  • couldntfindausername
  • DeliaTheArtist
  • couldntfindausername
    • 0
      couldntfindausername  
    • couldntfindausername:

      I don't think the term "heatlh care coverage" should have any meaning whatsoever - I support universal healthcare provision.

      That said, Americans don't appear to want to make changes in their own best interest so they're stuck with the system. I could imagine insurance companies offering a premium discount for those on a registry for organ donation after death without too much difficulty as increasing the supply of organs in this indirect manner would reduce their payouts in life cover policies or other insurance products. Much the same way that insurance discounts could be provided for being a nonsmoker, gym use etc etc.

      For live donors though? I can't see any ethical way to go beyond covering costs without setting up grossly distasteful and counterproductive scenarios.

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
    • 0
      dariusvons  
    • couldntfindausername:

      ok then, YOU donate your tissue and organs, I'll sell mine... it's my right, they're mine to sell, burn, eat, or whatever... if you disagree then you support slavery, for who else owns me and my organs and so the right to choose what is done with them?

    • 2 years ago
  • Ish05
    • 0
      Ish05  
    • couldntfindausername:

      By Dvon's standards, I'd say, make a clone of myself and keep it ready for when I need its organs. It came from me so I decide what I do with it. Hell, maybe I'll just use my kid's organs when ever I need them. Anyway you see it, they did come from me. So I decide what they are used for. Correct, DVON?
      Sounds like that crappy movie "The Island"

    • 2 years ago
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