There was a recent thread about having a choice over one's own body (where my opinion was clearly in the minority) and it got me to thinking about this topic. I am curious if my opinion on this is more mainstream or just as out there.
As a libertarian leaning person, I absolutely think it should be legal. I know those against this would differ from me on the moral and ethical consequences of legalizing the sale of organs, but it would, without question, save thousands of lives every year. And as long as the donor is of legal age and sound mind, why shouldn't that person be allowed to do as he or she see's fit with his own body? The list of people waiting for a kidney is growing fast and the wait time is increasing leading to more people dying of a preventable death due to laws. (BTW, aren't laws supposed to protect people, not kill them?) It would lead to fewer people being killed worldwide for their organs (rare, I know, but stating it preemptively as I have heard people say it would lead to an increase, which simply isn't true). We already allow people to give a kidney free of charge so why not allow them to be paid? Besides the thousands of recipeants whose lives would be saved every year, the money the donors would receive would likely save some lives as well.
This isn't only academic for me. There is a very sweet 12 year old boy in my town who is on dialysis and the transplant list. His father is a doctor and is doing everything he can for him, but his odds are long. If he dies, it will be from stupid laws not disease.
As a libertarian leaning person, I absolutely think it should be legal. I know those against this would differ from me on the moral and ethical consequences of legalizing the sale of organs, but it would, without question, save thousands of lives every year. And as long as the donor is of legal age and sound mind, why shouldn't that person be allowed to do as he or she see's fit with his own body? The list of people waiting for a kidney is growing fast and the wait time is increasing leading to more people dying of a preventable death due to laws. (BTW, aren't laws supposed to protect people, not kill them?) It would lead to fewer people being killed worldwide for their organs (rare, I know, but stating it preemptively as I have heard people say it would lead to an increase, which simply isn't true). We already allow people to give a kidney free of charge so why not allow them to be paid? Besides the thousands of recipeants whose lives would be saved every year, the money the donors would receive would likely save some lives as well.
This isn't only academic for me. There is a very sweet 12 year old boy in my town who is on dialysis and the transplant list. His father is a doctor and is doing everything he can for him, but his odds are long. If he dies, it will be from stupid laws not disease.