Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Growing Demand Fuels Black Market Organ Trade


Though the organ and tissue donation market are highly regulated in the United States, underhanded dealings between shadowy operators are not unheard of. It's illegal in the U.S., and most other nations, to offer or receive compensation for an organ donation. But a black market for human organs does exist.

Have you thought of how much your organ would be? The following is the amount of money associated with organ trade:
     Average paid by kidney buyer: $150,000
     Average paid to seller of kidney: $5,000
     Kidney buyer in United States: $120,000



Nearly 11,000 organs were bought on the black market in 2010, a sign that the illegal organ trade is booming, according to the World Health Organization.
There were nearly 107,000 organ transplants in 2010 – just 10 percent of the global need – and WHO officials and medical experts estimate 10 percent of those transplants were done with organs acquired on the black market.
It's ever growing, and it's a constant struggle. The stakes are so big, the profit that can be made so huge, that the temptation is out there.
The Guardian contacted an organ broker in China who advertised his services under the slogan, "Donate a kidney, buy the new iPad!" He offered £2,500 for a kidney and said the operation could be performed within 10 days.
According to the paper, many patients go to China, India or Pakistan for the surgery, paying up to $200,000 for a kidney to gangs who harvest organs from people for as little as $5,000.
Proof of illegal trafficking is being collected by networks of doctors in various countries known as custodian groups. The groups are working to support the Declaration of Istanbul, the 2008 statement against global organ exploitation honored by almost 100 nations.

6 comments:

  1. Illegally selling organs is a very cruel black market. There are many poor people in countries like India and Pakistan that are desperate to make money. There individuals have little to nothing and they have to support large families. Therefore, when given an opportunity to make money for selling organs they are confronted by a situation which is hard for them to turn down. What is even more sad is that the individuals that actually are selling the organs make very little money, and those who are mediating the sell make 100s of thousands of dollars of off someone else’s organs. It is really important to stop organs being sold on the black market.

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  2. After seeing the prices of organs and the amount people are getting paid, it is clearly visible as to why organ transplants are increasing drastically. Many people that are suffering poverty are willing to do whatever it takes for their family and children. To us the value of 5000$ might not seem a lot but for those who money is tight for, 5000$ makes a huge difference. One thing I am absolutely against is the black market. The mediators in between make so much money, and that is not fair to those who are actually donating their own organ. The black market organ selling definitely needs to stop because the is very cruel.

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  3. The temptation of illegally selling your organ for money boggles my head. 11,000 organs is a huge number and to know the black market organ trade is only increasing brings about a reality check how desperate many are for money. The average paid to a seller of a kidney is such a small percentage of the distribution, yet that is a price many are willing to sell for. An opportunity to make 5,000$ may be portrayed as winning the lottery for many poor countries but hearing the slogan "donate a kidney, buy the new iPad is an outrage. There needs to be a tighter watch on illegal trafficking with heavy consequences.

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  4. Black markets should stop what they are doing. After I read this blog, I realize how much a human-being can be cruel for money. It is sad that very poor peole take out their organs to support their family and children. Organs are not supposed to be used for abuse. The government should take a closer look and some actions to prevent those mediators who make much more money.

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  5. Do you think the person has a right to their own organ afterwards? It is part of their body so shouldn’t they get the money for their own organ? This is such a controversial topic because some people misuse this opportunity as a way to get money for the wrong reasons. The quote that you have in your blog “Donate a kidney, buy an iPad!” is so incredibly wrong. Yes, there is a need for organs; however, selling them like this is not the right way to advertise. Then you’ll get people who are willing to give anything to gain a couple of bucks. Granted it is your body and you deserve all rights on your body parts, it’s not right to have the mentality that giving away an organ will make you rich. The mindset should be that you’re helping someone in need. It’s also really crazy to see that black market selling of organs is increasing, it’s kind of scary.

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  6. I didn't realize that the 'black market' aspect of organs was such a problem. That being said, what can really be done about this problem? Needless to say, there will always be a need for organs, because there will always be patients in need. What do you think can be done to combat this black market? Should we punish not only those selling, but also those who actively use these organs for their own health?

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