The Buying and Selling of Human Organs From the Living: Why Not?

This article will examine the propriety of establishing a system for the sale of human organs, especially the kidney. Initially, the debilitating malady of end stage renal disease will be discussed as will the marginal cure of the disease via hemodialysis. Next, the superior alternative to dialysis, i.e., kidney transplantation will be discussed in two ways. First, the current procedure of using living, related donors will be examined as well as harvesting kidneys from cadaver donors . Second, the practice of transplantation will be explored for its ramifications to society and the participants in the following areas: medicine, psychology, and the law. As will be shown, the recipient, donor and the physician are affected by the legal aspects of transplantation in many ways