אורנים דוט קום – מגזין האינטרנט של מכללת אורנים

Dana Thawkho – 308107549

Proficiency III

November 13^th, 2015

Dear Mr. Ritter,

I recently read your article about legalizing organ trade in Singapore and I simply had to comment on it. The main issue you raised in your article about selling organs in the black market is exploitation of the poor. However, I have to disagree that it is not necessarily exploitation. Both sides – the donor and the buyer – are both in need. Donors are not forced to donate their kidney; rather they choose to do so in order to improve their financial state. In this case, it is simply a matter of unequal statuses as the buyer usually has a higher economic status than the donor does. Nonetheless, organ trading benefits both sides of the deal. Those who condemn organ trading in order to protect the poor – in this case the donor, simultaneously condemns the buyers to death and the donors to poverty as well. In order to legalize trade of body parts while maintaining the welfare of both sides, a standardized system can be created for pricing organs worldwide. By assessing the value of organs using factors that can be measured such as age, health and medical history, organs can be priced adequately and sold to those in need. Creating such a system would ensure that both sides of the deal are equally and fairly benefited.

If it saves human lives, then why not?

Dana Thawkho