Legalizing Organ Donation

Approximately thirty people die each day while waiting for transplantable vital organs, and since the year 2000, the number of Americans on waiting lists for kidney transplants has doubled (Humphreys, 2014). When statistics like this are used, it becomes quite clear that a course of action must be taken regarding the organ shortage before it becomes even worse. The need to encourage donation during such a shortage is obvious, however, when it is made clear that in terms of financial reimbursement for donation, the donor is the only one giving altruistically, it begins to seem as if the prohibition of organ sales only discourages donation. The same federal and state laws that prohibit donors from receiving compensation for the donation of their …show more content…
Though the legalization of organ sales does have the potential of exploiting human life, to believe that it is not being exploited already and will continue to be regardless of any law, would be overlooking the facts. If the possibility of further health implications does nothing to dissuade those clinging to survival, potential legal consequences will not hinder them in the least. With such an alarming shortage, a change needs to be made so that donation no longer prohibits rewards to the donor, while others even indirectly involved, are allowed to profit. Steps must be taken to encourage and motivate donation as much as humanly possible. As stated in an essay by Lewis Burrows, M.D., “I am not entirely pleased that I have had to reach this decision (a pro-organ sales stance). But for the time being, while my patients are dying for want of an organ, I have accepted this libertarian, utilitarian approach. We do not live in ivory towers. In life, we have to make hard decisions and accept the consequences when all of our options have serious flaws.” Though there is no easy answer, a regulated system of payment for donation has the potential of solving more problems than it may