4/14/2008

Organ market-proof of concept

According to the article Organ Sales and Moral Travails: Lessons from the Living Kidney Vendor Program in Iran Iran has a program that allows donors to recieve compensation for donating a kidney. The government pays donors $1,200 plus some limited health insurance coverage. The program has been successful in eliminating the shortage of kidneys in Iran, proving the concept that if the price of a good is too low there is a shortage and increasing the price can stop the shortage. As we all know from our Aplia assignment "under an existing law passed by Congress in 1984, it is illegal to offer a financial incentive to organ donors." Perhaps it's time to take a look at these laws, make some adjustments, and save some lives.

6 comments:

TheFindlay said...

I am all for saving lives and getting paid for it. However, without being racist I want to voice concern about following practices that appear to be working in unstable countries. There are a lot of sick people, referring to the mentally ill not physically, in the world and unfortunately for us a whole lot of them can be found living in the United States. I agree that there needs to be a better solution to the organ donor system in the US but I don’t think paying people for them is the right answer. Covering basic funeral costs of a deceased donor could be a better and less “black market enticing” way to accomplish such a solution. Good cause, needs a better solution.

Olivia said...

I’ve got your back John. Free markets sustain life. When exchange is voluntary people create a system that is unmatched in the history of the world. We should grow thicker skin, not be afraid of things that may seem uncomfortable, embrace tradeoffs, and allow markets do what they do best, allocate scarce resources.

Tehani and Tommy Douglas said...

Saving a life is one of the greatest things that a person can do for someone else. Allowing the payment of people who want to donate their kidneys is not a bad idea, even in the United States. I worry about either not regulating the kidney program enough or over regulating it. If there is no regulation, then the US could see a lot of unhealthy and useless kidneys come in just for the money. The government or some private entity needs to regulate the process so that there is no waste or inefficiency taking place. That way the US will not have a kidney shortage and people will not have to give up their organs for free. Both parties will benefit which makes it the best option for everyone.

Dr. Tufte said...

-1 on John for a spelling error.

It's ironic that innovative ideas only get tried in a country that is an international pariah ... only Nixon could go to China.

Having said that, I'm suspicious and agree with thefindlay.

Victoria said...

I agree with Olivia said. Saving life is great thing to do for other people. I think this is good oppotunity for people who need kidneys.As long as the organ donor happy to donate organ, this is a good system for both of them.

Dr. Tufte said...

But the irony is that you'd have to go to Iran to do anything more than verbally approve.