The Effects of Strictly Altruism in Organ Donations
Having the know-how and capabilities of transplanting an organ is an incredible medical breakthrough. The first successful kidney transplant was conducted in 1954, since then surgeons have learned how to successfully transplant almost every organ in the human body (Clemmons, 2009). People are able to add years to their life now because the medical field is able to conduct such remarkable procedures. However, in order for a patient to receive a healthy organ they must be matched with a compatible donor who is willing to donate their organ in an altruistic manner. The United States passed a law in 1984 called the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) which prohibits the purchasing of human organs. The only method of organ donation allowed is the altruistic method, which means a person donates their organs or consents to the donation of a loved one’s organs prior to death while receiving nothing in return. …show more content…
In other words, they donate out of the kindness of their heart. Receiving monetary incentives for an organ is against the law. Almost every nation in the world has outlawed the practice of selling and buying body organs with the exception of Iran. The reason for the law is to prevent poor people from being exploited and some find the practice of selling body organs to be quite unethical. However, the altruistic method has not helped with meeting the demand for life saving organs. Ever since beginning of organ transplantation there has been a much greater demand and not enough supply. The idea that the only approach towards organ donations is through altruism, has led to having a huge gap between the need for organs and the supply of organs, it has caused individuals to become desperate, and the black market has flourished. As it stands today the demand for a healthy organ is great and the supply is minimal. According to Health Resources and Services Administration (2016), in 2013, 121,272 people were on the waiting list for a healthy organ and only 14,257 organs were donated. That is a huge gap and it continues to grow. An average of 22 people dies every day while waiting on the list (HRSA, 2016). Surgeons have developed a system known as paired-kidney exchange (Clemmons, 2009). How it works is, a patient who is need of a kidney has a relative or friend who is willing to donate their kidney but is not compatible, the surgeons find other patients in the same predicament. They then find out if the two donors are compatible with the strangers and if so, they exchange kidneys. The first swap took place in April 2008 (Clemmons, 2009). This was a great breakthrough because NOTA prohibits the sale of organs, but it does not prohibit paired donations. Some believed this development would have a great effect on the waiting list, however, the waiting list has but doubled since the practice was introduced (Clemmons, 2009). According to the data provided by HRSA (2016), the demand for healthy organs has been on a steady rise and the supply has risen just slightly over the past 20 years. According to HRAS (2016) the amount of people on the organ donor waiting list could fill 2 football stadiums. When individuals find themselves waiting on the organ donor list they can become desperate. According to Forbes, (2007), “an estimated 7,000 Americans die each year because they are unable to receive a lifesaving organ transplant”. Their desperation is understandable. The organ that is needed the most is the kidney. Many people first seek out relatives or friends with the hope that someone would be compatible and kind enough to donate their kidney in an altruistic manner. Some folks are fortunate enough to find such a selfless individual. However, many people feel uncomfortable asking their loved ones to go through such an intrusive surgery. They do not want to make them feel pressured into donating. It is not easy to ask a loved one to donate a kidney. Many times the relatives of the person in need of an organ will donate out of responsibility, love, or in some cases pressure from other family members (Clarke, 2007). In other cases, people will
Having the know-how and capabilities of transplanting an organ is an incredible medical breakthrough. The first successful kidney transplant was conducted in 1954, since then surgeons have learned how to successfully transplant almost every organ in the human body (Clemmons, 2009). People are able to add years to their life now because the medical field is able to conduct such remarkable procedures. However, in order for a patient to receive a healthy organ they must be matched with a compatible donor who is willing to donate their organ in an altruistic manner. The United States passed a law in 1984 called the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) which prohibits the purchasing of human organs. The only method of organ donation allowed is the altruistic method, which means a person donates their organs or consents to the donation of a loved one’s organs prior to death while receiving nothing in return. …show more content…
In other words, they donate out of the kindness of their heart. Receiving monetary incentives for an organ is against the law. Almost every nation in the world has outlawed the practice of selling and buying body organs with the exception of Iran. The reason for the law is to prevent poor people from being exploited and some find the practice of selling body organs to be quite unethical. However, the altruistic method has not helped with meeting the demand for life saving organs. Ever since beginning of organ transplantation there has been a much greater demand and not enough supply. The idea that the only approach towards organ donations is through altruism, has led to having a huge gap between the need for organs and the supply of organs, it has caused individuals to become desperate, and the black market has flourished. As it stands today the demand for a healthy organ is great and the supply is minimal. According to Health Resources and Services Administration (2016), in 2013, 121,272 people were on the waiting list for a healthy organ and only 14,257 organs were donated. That is a huge gap and it continues to grow. An average of 22 people dies every day while waiting on the list (HRSA, 2016). Surgeons have developed a system known as paired-kidney exchange (Clemmons, 2009). How it works is, a patient who is need of a kidney has a relative or friend who is willing to donate their kidney but is not compatible, the surgeons find other patients in the same predicament. They then find out if the two donors are compatible with the strangers and if so, they exchange kidneys. The first swap took place in April 2008 (Clemmons, 2009). This was a great breakthrough because NOTA prohibits the sale of organs, but it does not prohibit paired donations. Some believed this development would have a great effect on the waiting list, however, the waiting list has but doubled since the practice was introduced (Clemmons, 2009). According to the data provided by HRSA (2016), the demand for healthy organs has been on a steady rise and the supply has risen just slightly over the past 20 years. According to HRAS (2016) the amount of people on the organ donor waiting list could fill 2 football stadiums. When individuals find themselves waiting on the organ donor list they can become desperate. According to Forbes, (2007), “an estimated 7,000 Americans die each year because they are unable to receive a lifesaving organ transplant”. Their desperation is understandable. The organ that is needed the most is the kidney. Many people first seek out relatives or friends with the hope that someone would be compatible and kind enough to donate their kidney in an altruistic manner. Some folks are fortunate enough to find such a selfless individual. However, many people feel uncomfortable asking their loved ones to go through such an intrusive surgery. They do not want to make them feel pressured into donating. It is not easy to ask a loved one to donate a kidney. Many times the relatives of the person in need of an organ will donate out of responsibility, love, or in some cases pressure from other family members (Clarke, 2007). In other cases, people will