Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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Body Parts for Sale
May 06, 2008 8:29 AM
A kidney specialist in Australia has created a ruckus by suggesting a way to end the shortage in organs for transplant -- let people sell their kidneys for $50,000 (Australian, equal to about $47,300 U.S.), to the government, for use on an open, legal market.
"Being forced to travel overseas and illegally buy an organ from someone who desperately needs the money, with no medical controls over the process and nobody checking whether the kidney is a good match, is what I call unethical," says Dr. Gavin Carney in the Sydney Morning Herald.
"But what is the option? Spending eight hours a day on dialysis for up to seven years? Dying on a wait list?"
The Herald says 1,800 Australians are waiting for kidney transplants, but only 343 were donated last year.
Trading in body parts is something most Americans find horrific, with all its implications of poor people selling their organs -- and well-being -- to those who can afford it. But there are occasional calls, such as Dr. Carney's, for people to reconsider. And there is one country -- Iran -- where the sale of organs is legal.
My old friend Stephen Dubner, co-author with Steven Levitt of "Freakonomics", has written about this lately --find his post HERE -- and he points us to an analysis by Dr. Benjamin Hippen, a kidney transplant surgeon in Charlotte, posted on the website of the Cato Institute. Take a look HERE.
"Although Iran clearly does not serve as a model for solving most of the world's problems, its method for solving its organ shortage is well worth examining," writes Hippen.
Hippen is quick to say he does not see Americans getting over their repugnance of organ-selling anytime soon, but he calls the shortage of organs for transplant the result of a "terrible policy failure." He says, "The portion of the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984 which prohibits the sale of organs should be repealed," so that we can explore how a fair market for organs -- better, presumably, than Iran's -- might work.
Would you sell one of your kidneys? Tuesday's edition of the Sydney Morning Herald carries a follow-up story: a man named Craig Gill called the paper to say he'd readily sell a kidney to secure the future of his two-year-old daughter Petal.
May 6, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (35)
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I might consider it for a million. Not 50k - no way.
Posted by: cturple | May 7, 2008 2:13:12 PM
I donated a kidney. No problem.
58 years old. Person I saved is living a normal life...no more "prison" and dread of dialysis. Me, just fine and would recommend it to everyone who can and would save a life.
Posted by: don | May 10, 2008 2:18:09 PM
My 15 Y.O. son has recieved 2 heart transplants, and will probably need a kidney in the future. I think I should keep mine in case he can use it, otherwise I'd do it for free....and if ya wanna give me money for it, well I like money, so yes, I'd do it.
Posted by: Mary H. | May 12, 2008 11:15:30 AM
I would do it in a heartbeat. I have been searching the web for a long time looking for someone I could help that in turn would help me. It's my body and I should be able to do with it as I please. Just because you don't agree with it gives you no right to stop anyone else. And who would I be hurting....no one...But I would be helping my family a great deal. The whole key to this is that the person selling their organ is LIVING and it's THEIRS inside their body. So bringing a dead persons organ really wouldn't help you much now would it...
Posted by: Dave | May 13, 2008 4:05:55 PM
I wouldn't sell a body part as a family member may need it in an emergency, but we should have the right to do so.
Posted by: Rochelle | May 14, 2008 2:50:19 PM
I have 3 fully-functioning kidneys (healthy ones too) and I can't do with the one extra one without government interference. Why should someone die just because I cannot sell my extra kidney? I cannot afford to miss out on work to just donate it to someone and my family surely could use the extra money (I am supporting my daughter and my grandson while my daughter is going to school - all on just my salary alone.) What a waste!
I think the government should back off and out of the medical field - and so should the insurance industry.
Posted by: Kat | May 21, 2008 12:17:45 PM
I strongly support the idea.
Unlike illegal trafficking of other things, it is quite impossible to pass off someone else's organ, such as that of a murder victim, as that of your own.
If it was possible today, I would go sell off my kidney right this minute to get my family out of debt. Financial freedom is a gift I would love to present to my young wife and two children. Especially during this time when the U.S. economy is doing so bad and getting worse.
Posted by: Jon | Jul 4, 2008 1:52:38 AM
I am 80 years old and in relatively good health. I have two great kidneys that could possibly give a middle aged parent or a young child surcease from the agony of dialysis. I don't necessarily need the money but why should I not consider making life worthwhile to some otherwise vital adult or child at no real cost to me.
It's really a no-brainer.
Posted by: Jerry | Aug 14, 2008 9:16:01 PM
I'm 20 yrs old married with a 7 month son.were both in college have car payments a house payment insirance bills food baby supplies gas..that all equals up tremendously.I would do it I'd a heart beat so that we could spend more time as a family and our schooling instead of working 60 hrs a week just to get by.so its got my vote!
Posted by: tish | Sep 25, 2008 3:26:44 PM
I would do it.just to get to say i savedsomone
Posted by: jon | Nov 20, 2008 11:52:18 PM
i think its your body if you want to save some ones life and get paid its your right
Posted by: teresa | Feb 21, 2009 2:53:02 AM
Want to DONATE my Kidney A+ White male 33yrs old very healthy.. only compensate for pain and suffering and travel... let me know
Posted by: dan | Mar 24, 2009 6:46:38 PM
I am healthy and 33 years old.I live in the U.S.A and with the economy and taxes the way they are I will sell one of my kidneys right now as long as it was done correctly and traveling expenses and surgical bill was paid.
Posted by: Aaron | Apr 20, 2009 4:13:35 AM
sign me up where can i sell mine i need the money !!!!!!!!
Posted by: bruce | Jun 3, 2009 9:04:16 PM
HELLO
I AM WILLING TO SELL MY BODY ONLY AFTER I DIE
CAN I SIGN PAPERS TO THAT GET MONEY WILL ALIVE SO WHEN IT HAPPENS THE HOSIPTAL KNOWS WHERE TO SEND MY BODY
OR SHIP IT OVER SEAS FROZEN FOR WHO EVER CAN DO WHAT NESSARY
Posted by: brad hart | Sep 21, 2009 8:47:18 AM
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