Organs for sale?

San Francisco Chronicle | 12/29/01 | David R. Henderson

[Magician]

WOW! Can we also get futures markets going on the Chicago commodities exchanges?

[Libertarianize the GOP]

Good Article

[Nitro]

I'm looking for a piano!!

[Bikers4Bush]

"If somehow, we could persuade people before they die, or their loved ones immediately after they are dead, to give up their organs, we could eliminate the shortage." And just how long would it be before someone killed off a loved one to sell the organs? Or, sell someone's organs even after the dead person has left explicit instructions not to?

And if someone sells their kidney and the only one left goes bad what then? Are they going to pay for the new kidney they'd need? No, their insurance company (you and I) would.

Higher premiums so that someone can sell an organ to put a down payment on a house? No thanks.

[balrog666]

I thought this was already being done in India and, involuntarily, in China.

[vikingchick]

ping

[Magician]

"...And just how long would it be before someone killed off a loved one to sell the organs?..."

Why a loved one?

My farther was appalled when heart transpalantation was first done. As an experienced crimianl defense attorney, he was certain that people like the Mafia would simply knock off someone if the Capo di tutti Capo needed a new heart.

[Fish out of Water]

I am always amazed at the number of people that believe the State owns your body and must dictate how you use it.
Hypocrites!

[Bikers4Bush]

O.k. how about loved one or someone that you're the legal guardian of. If there's a finacial benefit I'm guessing the survivior would also have to be the beneficiary of any estate.

Of course our worst fears could be realized and the hospitals could open drive through windows where people could just drop off random organs and get cash for them on the spot.

Money for organs is a bad, bad idea.

[Bikers4Bush]

I you're saying that I'm a hypocrite I'd like to know how.

Another thought was that if they're going to allow people to sell their organs then they'll have to allow people to rent their bodies as well ala brothels. That would definately be hypocritical, you can sell your organs but not the sexual one's.

[Mulder]

Thanks for the ping. This goes to prove that the AMA are idiots in addition to traitors (their anti-gun efforts).

Selling organs for $$$ is a great idea, and until implemented there will continue to be an "organ shortage" (no surprise there).

My body belongs to me, and I should be able to do with it as I please. If that means donating a kidney for $$$$, that's my choice.

[lds23]

Are you calling me a pork belly? :)

[Fish out of Water]

I don’t know how you can support a less intrusive Government and still believe the Government owns you. If the State owns your body then you have nothing but a few temporary privileges granted by the Government out of the goodness of it’s heart. If the individual owns his body then it is his to use and sell however he decides is best.

[Bikers4Bush]

I don't believe the government ownes me or my body. At the same time I think that I have a right not to be penalized for the idiocy of others.

If perfectly healthy people start selling organs there are medical implications not the least of which are infection and recovery.

As a result MY insurance would go up. You can't possibly dillute the costs associated with these types of things and nobody knows what would happen down the road. Sure you make $5,000 now but what if complications down the road result in expenses that the donor can't afford? Answer, it hits me in the pocket book not you.

[rabidralph]

I've got a Wurlitzer for $75.

[cksharks]

Your thoughts dont mean Jack S--t to the persons family who donated me my new heart. Because they were and still dead.

[rector seal]

How about an insurance program where I am covered for
any needed body parts in return for donating my own when I die?

[Fish out of Water]

Without Government interference Insurance companies would raise rates appropriately for those selling their own Kidney. Most of what is being discussed would be allowing the sale of organs from a dying patient upon death so that the dying patient can leave something to his heirs. Since the patient is dead at the time his organs are taken there will be no further insurance costs.

[Nitro]

I thought that was juke-box!

[RJCogburn]

If perfectly healthy people start selling organs there are medical implications not the least of which are infection and recovery.

As a result MY insurance would go up.

Not really....the costs associated with the obtaining of the organ, including recovery and treatment of complications like infection would be covered, one would hope, by the purchaser.

In fact, insurance companies could, and likely would, exclude coverage for donation related costs. Similarly, to answer an earlier concern, if the donor later needed, say, a kidney to replaced a failed remaining one, then those costs could also be excluded.

Of course, the government could mandate that companies include coverage, as the government already does for various conditions and treatments, but then that's a problem with government, not with the concept of me owning my body and using it as I wish.