Technology has made it possible for healthcare practitioners to conduct organ transplants. Some people agree to have their organs harvested in death while others donate or sell to their loved ones while alive. This trade raises ethical concerns. Although some people support organ exchange, Congress should not legalize the buying and selling of human organs since there is no clarity of consent, commodifies human body parts, and overlooks the human dignity.
Congress should refrain from legalizing human organs’ buying and selling since there will be an uncertainty of consent. Presumed consent—allowing medical experts to remove the dead people’s organs—is one of the ethical issues that could arise ( Crepelle , 2016). This approach means that the government owns the people once they are dead, and it could be against the deceased’s wish. Although some people may agree to sell their organs, there will be no assurance of how the researchers will use the organs. The case of Henrietta Lacks, whose cells the medical experts used to research for the cure of cervical, was unethical since her family and relatives were neither informed about the process nor offered compensation (Jones, 2018). Thus, people could be agreeing to take part in methods that may not benefit them or their loved ones.
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Furthermore, the buying and selling of human organs will disproportionately affect people from low-income backgrounds. Buyers from western countries will use this opportunity to exploit individuals from third world countries (Andorno, 2017). Although the sellers may have consented to the sale of their organs, they will have the bargaining power or in-depth understanding of the process. Thus, they will sell their organs to any buyer as long as they receive a form of compensation. Besides, some donors may lie about their health information to be selected (Shaikh & Bruce, 2016). The selling and buying of human organs misguide people from low-income to believe that the organ trade is the only way to earn income.
However, some people believe that Congress should allow the buying and selling of human organs due to health concerns. In 2015, the US healthcare system conducted over 30000 organ transplants, and still, there are more than 120000 people in need of organs ( Crepelle , 2016). Notably, there is a shortage of organs, which results in death. While the concern is valid, people can prevent organ-related complications by engaging in physical activities and healthy diets. Besides, organ procurement and allocation create inequalities and commodify the human body (Cherry, 2017). People should focus on their health to avoid organ-related conditions.
Overall, Congress should not allow the sale and buying of human organs. There will be no uncertainty concerning the use of human organs among the medical communities and for-profit companies. Also, wealthy individuals will take advantage of people from low-income backgrounds. People will equate their worth to the financial incentives offered during the sale of organs.
References
Andorno, R. (2017). Buying and selling organs: Issues of commodification, exploitation, and human dignity. Journal of Trafficking and Human Exploitation , 1 (2), 119-127.
Cherry, M. J. (2017, October). Organ vouchers and barter markets: Saving lives, reducing suffering, and trading in human organs. The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy: A Forum for Bioethics and Philosophy of Medicine , 42(5), 503-517. https://doi.org/10.1093/jmp/jhx019
Crepelle, A. (2016). A market for human organs: An ethical solution to the organ shortage. Indiana Health Law Review , 13 , 17.
Jones, D. G. (2019). Three‐dimensional printing in anatomy education: Assessing potential ethical dimensions. Anatomical Sciences Education , 12 (4), 435-443. https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.1851
Shaikh, S. S., & Bruce, C. R. (2016). An ethical appraisal of financial incentives for organ donation. Clinical Liver Disease , 7 (5), 109-111. https://doi.org/10.1002/cld.548
