Know-nothing liberal poverty pimps lament European organ markets

[^_^ 5,021]

A recent New York Times article laments the spread of illegal organ markets in Europe, in which mostly poor people try to sell kidneys and other organs to people who need transplants:

Facing grinding poverty, some Europeans are seeking to sell their kidneys, lungs, bone marrow or corneas, experts say…. The spread of illegal organ sales into Europe, where they are gaining momentum, has been abetted by the Internet, a global shortage of organs for transplants and, in some cases, unscrupulous traffickers ready to exploit the economic misery.

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The main supply countries have traditionally been China, India, Brazil and the Philippines. But experts say Europeans are increasingly vulnerable.

The article notes various dangers of these markets, but mentions only obliquely and in passing that there is a massive worldwide organ shortage and that organ markets could save numerous lives. They could also help some of the world’s poor obtain much-needed income at little risk. The health risks of donating a kidney are far smaller than those associated with numerous jobs that no one argues we should ban the poor from taking, such as mining, lumberjacking, police work, and playing professional football. Moreover, the risk to poor donors would be much lower if organ sales were legal, and safety protocols were carried out by reputable legal buyers such as hospitals and insurers.

http://www.volokh.com/2012/07/25/illegal-organ-markets-in-europe/

[X Factor 1,112]

Because of the controversial nature of organ selling, it is often difficult to discuss the issue rationally, for the thought of trading one's organs sounds almost too suicidal, almost beyond belief. And it is a sad state of affairs that someone has to make this choice to feed their family.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Because of the controversial nature of organ selling, it is often difficult to discuss the issue rationally, for the thought of trading one's organs sounds almost too suicidal, almost beyond belief. And it is a sad state of affairs that someone has to make this choice to feed their family.

I wouldn't go as far as to say they are doing this in order to feed their family. Citizens of a certain European country located in the Balkans were selling their teenage daughters for color TV sets not so long ago. And I don't mean selling them for the night, but selling them to be shipped off to another country for a life of prostitution.

[X Factor 1,112]

I wouldn't go as far as to say they are doing this in order to feed their family. Citizens of a certain European country located in the Balkans were selling their teenage daughters for color TV sets not so long ago. And I don't mean selling them for the night, but selling them to be shipped off to another country for a life of prostitution.

Yikes that is even worse than I thought. Very selfish

[JohnR! 5,495]

Because of the controversial nature of organ selling, it is often difficult to discuss the issue rationally, for the thought of trading one's organs sounds almost too suicidal, almost beyond belief. And it is a sad state of affairs that someone has to make this choice to feed their family.

Although we tend to think that only the needy and desperate do it, remember the expose on a organ transplant mafia headed by jews and Israelis in NJ back in 2009?

It happened right here in the good ole USA....

http://notes.kateva....new-jersey.html

Edited July 26, 2012 by Gegel

[X Factor 1,112]

Although we tend to think that only the needy and desperate do it, remember the expose on a organ transplant mafia headed by jews and Israelis in NJ back in 2009?

It happened right here in the good ole USA....

http://notes.kateva....new-jersey.html

- I am speechless!

[mawilson 2,133]

Why not just let them sell their organs legally?

[X Factor 1,112]

Why not just let them sell their organs legally?

If you do that it will open a whole can of worms. People will have more incentive to clone others or enslave the less fortunate and sell their organs. And can you imagine the bidding wars on Ebay? It will be quite a moral/ethical dilemma - just saying.

[mawilson 2,133]

If you do that it will open a whole can of worms. People will have more incentive to clone others or enslave the less fortunate and sell their organs. And can you imagine the bidding wars on Ebay? It will be quite a moral/ethical dilemma - just saying.

I guess it all boils down to one question. Do you own your body? Or does the government?

If I own my body, I should be allowed to sell pieces of it, pump it full of drugs, kill myself or anything else that's currently considered "controversial".

[X Factor 1,112]

I guess it all boils down to one question. Do you own your body? Or does the government?

If I own my body, I should be allowed to sell pieces of it, pump it full of drugs, kill myself or anything else that's currently considered "controversial".

True we have freedom to do whatever we want to our own bodies. But there are individuals who exploit others and this is an area that is readily exploitable.

[mawilson 2,133]

True we have freedom to do whatever we want to our own bodies. But there are individuals who exploit others and this is an area that is readily exploitable.

Well, to do it legally, I imagine you'd need the donor's consent, so I don't see how you would be able to exploit someone, short of kidnapping and torture - which can happen even today regardless of its legality.