The Politics of Human Organ Trafficking

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to understand the various dimension of organ trafficking. The organ trafficking is becoming the worldwide ethical issue on selling human organs. Despite the ban in many countries, the sales and purchase activities are increasing worldwide. The poverty is found to have the most important factor in motivating the donor to sell his organ for the monetary rewards. However, this does not prove to be advantageous for the donor to improve his financial conditions. Due to lack of regulations in some third world countries, the organ trafficking is posing many health risk to the recipient. It is recommended that deceased organ donation should be encouraged in every country in order to reduce the illegal activities of human organs. Table of Contents

Abstractii

The Politics of Human Organ Trafficking1

Introduction1

Overview2

Modes of Organ Trafficking3

Discussion5

Alternatives of organ trafficking9

Conclusion12

References14

The Politics of Human Organ Trafficking

Introduction

The organ trafficking or illegal trade of organs in the global markets has become an ethical issue which not only affects the donors & recipients of the organs but also the transplant physicians and surgeons around the globe. Doctors around the world are facing many ethical responsibilities towards the recipients on careful transplantation of the organs that are supplied from the unknown vendors. Several patients are reported to have encountering with the numerous health issues from the inadequate transplantation of organs such as hepatitis and tuberculosis or donor-transmitted malignancy (Budiani-Saberi & Delmonico, 2008). Since, the selling and buying of the human organs are illegal in many countries, the source of these organs are associated with the third-world countries where there the law and order machinery is not strong enough against the illegal organ trading. Many people in these third world countries are living below the poverty line, which causes the people to sell their organs at very meagre price as virtually they have no other means to financially support themselves and their families.

In some past literatures, selling organs is claimed to be the autonomy choice for person, however, it is more because of the compulsion and poverty that an organ sale is considered as desperate alternative available choice by the poor to feed their children and family (Epstein, 2007). This has resulted in the supply of inadequate quality of human organs which possess several health risks for the recipients. Brazil, India and Moldova are top three organ trafficking countries and buying and selling activities of the organs are banned across these countries (WHO, 2004, http://www.who.int). This has resulted in the underground trade of organs which sometimes involves the forceful organ trafficking of the person. Governments all around the world are taking deterrent measures to stop this illegal trade with the collaboration of WHO, UNODC, and with many others like this. Many countries from the organ trafficking are facing the challenges of the shortages of kidneys. Due to illegal and underground trade activity, the needy recipients do not receive the kidney transplants many times. Schall (2008) reported that there are around 70,000 people in ...