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Dear commenters

Dear Commenters,
It is not easy to express an opinion for or against an issue as multifaceted and as controversial as organ donation. The comments are always informative, worthy to respond to, even those containing ad hominem assails. The fact that organ donation is an emotional issue should not preclude us from examining it rationally. I believe the key questions are:

1. Is the US system that prohibits any kind of compensation to the donors efficient?

2. Who are the main beneficiaries of zero-price system?

3. Can we increase the supply of organ by offering some kind of financial compensations to donors thus minimizing the number of people who may die while waiting for organs because of shortage?

One solution to shortage is to appeal to people’s altruism and invoke the moral values. If people donate a kidney solely for moral gratification, that is fantastic, but what happens if there are not enough altruistic donors. The US experience has indicated that such an approach will not solve the shortage. Alternative solution, as suggested by some observers, is to offer monetary incentives which seems justifiably disgusting and indefensible but raises an interesting question. Why if something is done for free in good, but if it is done for money is repugnant? Financial compensation is not necessarily offered to living donors as it is the case in Iran, it may be designed innovatively to increase the supply of cadaveric organs. If that could be done successfully, then there is no need to humiliate live donors with monetary rewards and take advantage of poor people’s desperation.

We also need to make distinction between donation and allocation. They are two separate issues. Donation, especially under zero-price system, is an admirable act of charity. However, the distribution scheme is subject to misuse and favoritism. And, I believe that is the target of most of our criticism. It is most probable that for-price system may lead to exploitation of the poor and those who can afford to pay, the rich, mainly benefit from the system. Worse yet, under free system all the benefits are reap by doctors, hospitals, and procurement agencies. However, under for-price system at least some benefits are gained by the donors or his/her heirs.
It is usual in the United State for rich people travel to the poor countries to receive organs. That is because of shortage in home country. If the shortage can be alleviated so will the exploitations.

According to some studies, it seems the Iranian system has led to elimination of kidney shortage. “If a decade's worth of reports in the transplant literature are to be believed, only one country in the world does not suffer from an organ shortage: Iran. Although Iran clearly does not serve as a model for solving most of the world's problems, its method for solving its organ shortage is well worth examining. Organ donation is ubiquitous throughout the world, but Iran is the only country that legally permits kidney vending, the sale of one individual's kidney to another suffering from kidney failure”

I have no way of proving or disproving what is claimed by this excerpt, just post it for your comments. Nor I am that naive to claim that the laws of economics that apply to ordinary products will also apply to such an unorthodox object as human organ. However, I believe if dog food was free, you should see lots of hungry dogs!

?

You seem to have the answer but I only have questions:

In the islamic 'system' where sovereignty, territorial integrity, culture, country, honor, sharaf, and just about anything else is for sale, is there a good reason why kidneys should be excepted?

In the IRR asfal ol safelin MO where human lives are worthless should kidneys not be just another commodity?

If U.S., or other countries (East or West) have organ shortages, should the least fortunate & most dargir not be able to solve it by selling their body parts like they do in Iran and create an innovative solution to this pesky issue?

Should there not be an ebay or craigslist type of service to make this exchange even less cumbersome and more broker friendly?

[ //www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLrufY67SzY ]

[ //video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5426801064... ]

OKtaby

Roozbeh Jan

You are right. This should be a case study for all advocating total deregulation. No law means no rules. But I do not wall it "real" instead "runaway" Capitalism. It is immoral; heartless and destructive. I tried to explain that to a libertarian once. I think I actually make some progress.

When money is everything it is only natural to sell body parts. I would not be surprised if the reintroduce slavery. After all it is not against Sharia.

Yes, this is Ahmadi-Nejads economic plan for recovery

"Needless to say, monetary incentive is not, and should not be, always
the main motivation behind what people do or refuse to do. Organ
donation is certainly more than a business transaction; it is done for
moral gratification and saving lives not for the pecuniary reward.
Allowing trades on human organs undermines human altruism and passion
for saving the lives of others. It makes you wonder why in a country in
which the moral values and altruism is the pillar of its government,
the sales of human organs are allowed?

And if in facts, monetary incentive argument has such a strong merit,
can we say that the government of Iran has done at least one thing
right?"

since Iran's per capita road death is the highest in the world, because it is the law of jungle, and because  law is enforced in a rather arbitrary way (I read some 750,000 people have died in highway/road collisions since revolution), you can argue, it is part of the government plan to help the world with the body parts of the dead and injured.

But all I wish you, is to be in a situation so that your only way of suvival is to sell a body part, so you know first hand, the meaning of your moronic post, Varjavand.

You wana know what real capitalism looks like? Look at Iran!

In Islamist Iran you can get anything for a  (high) price. From Education, housing, healthcare, food, job to Sex, drugs, alchohal and in the process if you destroyed your internal organs, no problem, it is for sale too! And if you screw up things in this world, again, no problem, you can buy your salvation in the after life by paying a mulla to pray for you!

BTW, if you happen to be one of the 40% of Iranian population living under official islamist regime's poverty line, then you are really screwed and destined for Kahrizak, Evin or worse if you open your big mouth and complain.

Adam smith would be proud of Islamist regime of Iran! 

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

Varjavand

It makes you wonder why in a country in which the moral values and altruism is the pillar of its government, the sales of human organs are allowed?

Are you kidding me? The IRI never gives a damn about moral values. The only value the IRI leadership knows is that of power. And how to pack their wallets with stolen money. To a point people have no choice but to sell their body parts.

And if in facts, monetary incentive argument has such a strong merit, can we say that the government of Iran has done at least one thing right?

No we very much the reverse. The IRI has forced people into such poverty they are forced to sell their body. It is proof of the utter evil of the IRI and the kind of monsters that run it. There is nothing good about this. They give Iran money to Hizbollah while people starve. Guess what? By removing subsidies more people will be forced to sell their bodies. Iran is burning while the Mollas and Islamists are laughing at us.

This must be the third or

This must be the third or fourth blog post on this subject I've come across on IC since frequenting this site nearly two years now.

As I've stated a few times, there are many Americans here in need of a kidney that wish this type of setup were available to them. Don't take my word for it, just read the comments to the documentary that's posted on the internet.

So for those of us with a National ID, just remember that we're among the lucky ones that should we need a kidney someday, it's as easy as coming up with the money, taking a plane trip to Tehran and having the operation performed. There's a heckuva lot of other Americans that wish they could have this option.

The moral factor? Tell it to those in need of a kidney. They'll provide you an ear full.  

hamsade g.

I'm not sure I fully understand what this blogger is trying to say.

Anyway, that video had me upset for 2 days. And I used it several times while debating with those telling me how AN is great. For he's fighting off Western imperialism (sic !).

I also asked my teenage daughter to watch it. She stopped complaining about not having the latest Iphone. ;o)

ao, thanks for the heads

ao, thanks for the heads up.  now i remember.  i even posted a comment on his previous thread where he trumpeted iri's supremacy in economics, manufacturing, and the sciences in middle east as a result of the sanctions.

mr. varjavand, you're getting an old list from your minders.  i mean the organ transplant thing.  it's old news.  write a short essay about another item on the list.  of course, with human rights aside. right?

Hamsadeh Jaan - You have to put the whole thing in context

Mr. Varjavand also believes that the IR is manufacturing aircraft:

 //iranian.com/main/news/2010/10/11/irans-economy-feels-sting-sanctions

harvesting organs of iranian population

rea, thank you for re-posting this video.  i wonder if iri tended to running the government and actually provided jobs for the unemployed and underemployed, reigned in the inflation, improve the health care system...... how many people would donate organs?  this video is truly sad.  and to some, it's one of the iri's great achievements!

One thing is donating,

selling to feed your family is another issue. It's called desperation.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgh0jiMu_UM

some people have no shame

no.  there was a video on this site not long ago documenting such operations in iran.  these businesses are run by the government.  there are hundreds of such operations in tehran alone.  one of the managers was claiming they have up to 50 transplants (daily, weekly). the amount of organs that they harvest is way beyond the population need of iran.  the organ sellers get a pittance for their organs while there's potentially very big money to be made if these organs were transported to other parts of the world.

 if they were really sincere in facilitating organ donations for transplants, then they should start a voluntary organ donation program and campaign, allow private trade between sellers and families who need organs, raise the price above the $1000 typical payment they get for kidneys to reflect market demand, provide medicine and medical equipment to the hospitals and clinics (have you been to an iranian hospital lately?).

this is another scam profit-making operation by iri and you're trying bol begiri in vasat.  vaghean keh, sang paye ghazvin.

Varjavand, very good question!

I like to know how IC members look at this issue in particular IRR/IRI supporters.