by Rod Edwards on July 21, 2009
A double header on organ transplants: see this post on legalizing organ sales. This article notes the precedent setting case of a 22 year old alcoholic being denied a transplant and left to die – attributed to the severe shortage or available organs in Britain. If organ sales were legal, this fellow would have had his second chance at life: right or wrong?
Do we take pride in our society’s ability to offer second chances? Or wield a harsh and deadly sword call pragmatism?
Huge commentary at Reddit.
More coverage at the Times.
“The NHS Blood and Transplant service said Mr Reinbach’s case highlighted the dilemma faced by doctors because of a shortage of donated organs.”
“He was admitted to a London hospital in May but died after doctors refused to give him a liver transplant amid fears he would not stay sober for six months after the operation.”
“They told him to stop smoking and he did. They told him to stay in bed and he did. All he wanted to do was prove that he was serious, and that he wouldn’t drink again.”
[news.com.au]
Image Credit: Stuart Clarke, Times Online.
by Rod Edwards on July 21, 2009
UPDATE: Also see this follow-up post on a 22 year old alcoholic denied a transplant and now dead.
Doctors proposing that selling your organs need not be illegal: This article will make you think. It tells the story of a somewhat schizophrenic homeless American man, recruited to sell a kidney in Houston, and along the way provides a great summary of some of the ethical issues around organ sales, and suggests that there’s a growing liberalization of thinking around the issue.
I’m not advocating this – just hoping to generate some discussion. I’ve been getting some vocal free market comments recently, so how about it? Should the free market extend to organ sales? What if it were government sponsored and regulated, and served a social agenda (see excerpts below)?
This article is also a harrowing tale of homelessness. Lots to talk about here.
“…chronic kidney disease has become an epidemic. The waiting list for kidney transplants in the United States has reached 78,000, and about a third of the people on it will die before they get one. The average wait is now three to five years.” [Houston Press, Page 3]
“Dr. Benjamin Hippen, a nephrologist [kidney specialist]… believes… that the vast unmet demand for kidneys in rich countries creates black markets for them in poor ones. He became involved … to address the specter of transplant tourism.” [Houston Press, Page 3]
How about non-cash compensation?
“…Hippen suggests nontransferable, nonmonetary forms of government compensation that, as he puts it, ‘demonstrate the type of respect for a person selling their kidney that tossing a couple of bucks on the ground doesn’t.’ These could be anything from pension plans to lifelong health care. He says pilot projects are the best way to determine what, if anything, works best. Late last year, Republican Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania sponsored a bill that would amend the 1984 law against compensation to allow for exactly that.” [Houston Press, Page 3]
