Report Topic: Problems Arising From Transplant Tourism
1. Introduction
The market of global trading for human organs has been rising in the past decades, due to the advancement of medical technology that allows this phenomenon of transplant tourism, saving lives of people all around the world. But as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, profit-driven facilitators are able to exploit this advantage (Kelly, 2013) and continue the buying and selling or organs illegally, causing physiological, psychological, and economical complications. This report will outline the possible causes and consequences of organ trafficking (transplant tourism) on both recipients and donors, ethical issues involved in transplant tourism …show more content…
By global governance, the author implies that the government should play an active role on being involved with national affairs and acknowledge the illegal underground trading of organs. Being transparent and accountable with the operations mean that hospitals should verify the relationship status between recipients and donors. By increasing the prevalence and the normality of cadaveric donation allows the supply of organs to increase, leading to less wealthy transplant tourists travelling to developing countries to have surgeries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has “Guiding Principles on Human Organ Transplantation”, consisting of 11 guiding principles, with some examples; allocation of organs, cells and tissues should be guided by clinical criteria and ethical norms, not financial or other considerations; prohibition of any monetary payment or other reward of monetary value for organ donation; and high quality, and safe procedures are essential for donors and recipients alike (Bagheri & Delmonico, 2013).
5. Conclusion
The increasing gap between demand and supply of organ donors and patients has been an issue for the donors, recipients as well as the government. The causes of transplant tourism are simple; the need for an organ from a wealthy patient, and a donor who is desperate for money, but the consequences include negative effects on their physiological, psychological, and socioeconomic state. Transplant tourism may never be eliminated, but steps can be taken towards that goal including, government interference, an increase of cadaveric donations, and the guiding principles by the WHO.
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