By accident or by design, she believed, surgeons in their unit had been transplanting black-market kidneys from residents of the world's most impoverished slums into the failing bodies of wealthy dialysis patients from Israel, Europe and the United States. According to Scheper-Hughes, the arrangements were being negotiated by an elaborate network of criminals who kept most of the money themselves. For about $150,000 per transplant, these organ brokers would reach across continents to connect buyers and sellers, whom they then guided to "broker-friendly" hospitals here in the United States (places where Scheper-Hughes says surgeons were either complicit in the scheme or willing to turn a blind eye). The brokers themselves often posed as or hired clergy to accompany their clients into the hospital and ensure that the process went smoothly. The organ sellers typically got a few thousand dollars for their troubles, plus the chance to see an American city.Odd role that clergy play in this drama.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Clergy facilitate the movement of kidneys to higher valued uses
With over 100,000 people waiting for a kidney, and only 8,000 supplied by accident victims, the US black market flourishes.
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Luke,
ReplyDeleteI know you are in favor of this. I am not opposed. However, whether this transaction is legal or illegal, I believe our society must not reward those who coerce or otherwise force people to "donate" their organs. And, yes, I would feel the same way if I were the potential recipient. What are your thoughts on how an incentive scheme can be established to address this concern while appropriately rewarding risk - of, for example, donating one of two functioning kidneys.
Markets are not a panacea--they are simply less bad than the alternative.
ReplyDeleteI would authorize insurance companies to pay for kidneys. If you are worried about donors, bundle the donation with free medical insurance.