Problem Regarding Sale of Organs
Good health is a vital aspect in the life of a human being. People look towards starting their day to day activities in which health is fundamental for them to achieve that. However, a person organ may fail to function and a removal by the medical doctor may be advocated to save the life of a patient. Incase of a kidney failure or seizure, a patient may buy another kidney from a person who is willing to sell their organs. Notably, the most significant problem with the sale of organs is rich people exploiting the less fortunate by buying organs which is a problem created by lack of enough legislation and can be solved by developing stringent laws that regulate the sale of body organs.
Significant Problem Regarding the Sale of Organs
Over the years, there has been the sale of organs between patients that undergo transplants and healthy people. However, it has not been all rosy when it comes to the sale of body organs as the rich have taken advantage of the poor to buy organs at a relatively low price. On the other hand, the poor people in the society have resorted to engaging in the business of selling body organs with the intention of eking a living (Yousaf&Purkayastha,2016). The sale of organs has been an issue since the poor have always felt that the rich exploit their humble backgrounds to meet their health obligations.
In every country, there are low income earners who spend less than a dollar a day to survive. As a consequence therein, the people who rank lowly in the social status hierarchy resort to any available avenue to meet their basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing (Tsoulfas&IntechOpen, 2018). One of the ways that the less fortunate make a living is by the sale of body organs such as kidney. However, after the poor sell their body organs to the rich, they feel robbed of their essential human dignity since, they do not have anything to clutch on in terms of survival
The Problem of Body Organs Exploitation
One of the challenges of the rich procuring organs is increased killings and violence. Notably, people that have donated vital organs such as kidneys have an idea of the lump sum that one gets after engaging in the trade. Once a person remains with a single organ and they can no longer sell, they resort into killing people to get the organs (Tsoulfas & IntechOpen, 2018). Additionally, there are elements of violence involved such as the use of excessive force and crude weapons when robbing individuals’ body organs.
The other problem of engaging in the sale of body organs is that there are health risks involved. Notably, every operation in the theater presents itself with challenges such as excessive bleeding and failure of the remaining body organs to perform. In the event that a poor person is left with complications, they are left to foot health bills which may take a toll on the less fortunate since they barely survive on a dollar a day.
In addition, there are psychological and social consequences of selling body organs. Research has shown that there are long term repercussions of engaging in the sale of body organs. One of the psychological consequences is a sense of emptiness after a person has given out their organs. In terms of social consequences, a person develops self hatred towards the people they donate body organs (Tsoulfas&IntechOpen, 2018). Besides, some donors experience half man syndrome in that they feel they are not complete human since, they gave out a vital part of their body.
How to Solve the Sale of Body Organs
Government intervention can be used to solve the problem of exploitation of the lower class by the higher class members. The law makers can come up with legislation which regulates the selling of body organs (Jensen, 2011). For instance, the government may make rulings indicating that if a body organ has to be given out it has to be donated freely not sold. On the other hand, if trade of organs has to happen, it has to be between people of the same class. The haves should buy the organs from their fellow haves and not from their counter parts who are the have nots in the society.
On the flip side, the federal government in coordination with the other departments should create employment to the low income earners so that they can make their ends meet. By providing job opportunities, poor citizens are not only able meet their basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter but also other secondary needs such as education and health care (Jensen, 2011). In so doing, the less privileged in the society are protected from the rich who aim at exploiting and taking advantage of them. To prevent rampant cases of exploitation there is a need for creation of jobs that are distributed to the poor citizens.
Reason why the Exploitation problem has not been Solved
There are various reasons that can be attributed to the unsolved problem of the rich exploiting the poor especially when it comes to organ trade. One of the reasons is that the government has not come up with clear laws regarding the sale of body organs (Flescher, 2018). The government has little idea on the impact of this trade hence it has not come through to solve the problem of exploitation. The ruling party lack clear regulation on whether or not the selling and buying of body organs is illegal or not. For those found practicing the selling and buying of body organs strict punishment should befall them.
On the other hand, the government has no idea of the prons that come along with the selling of body organs and impacts of murder and violence associated with organ sale. Another reason why the exploitation of poor donors has continued is because of the fact that there are minimal cases of donor homicides that are reported to the police department. As a result of the low number of murder cases, the police tend to overlook the issue of exploitation (Flescher, 2018). Lack of knowledge by the government that the trade actually exists or the ignorance and corruption portrayed by the some government official contributes to this unsolved problem. In case a person is caught selling or buying the body organs illegally, some official might be bribed for the operation to go through hence the problem of exploitation will persist.
How to Solve the Problem of Exploitation of the Poor by the Rich
It is important to note that there are numerous ways in which a nation can curb the problem of exploitation in the organ trade. First, the law makers may make laws which clearly spell out the selling and buying of organs and their repercussions (Cohen, 2014). For instance, the government might make it illegal for the sale of body organs regardless of the persons social status, failure to follow these rules, a culprit might be charged in a court of law and even jailed for a certain period of time. If need arises for an organ to be transplanted from one person to another then it has to be given freely and out of the donors free will and not by selling an organ.
As a result, the government might raise the people’s standards of living to the poor by the introduction of free education. In so doing, the poor will not have to sell their body organs at a lower price to make their end meets and to put food on the table (Cohen, 2014). Also, creation of awareness by the government to the public on the demerits of selling body organs are distorted body image and hatred towards the recipient by the donors. In so doing, members of the public will seize to sell their body organs such as the kidney in order to get money since their will be informed about the aftermath of their actions.
Benefits and Cost of Solving Exploitation Problem
One of the merits of solving the problem of exploitation is that there is equity and equality in the people in a society. Fairness prevails between the haves and the have nots in the community which in turn will results to harmony and peaceful coexistence among the people. This will be achieved under minimal cost or at no cost at all since the government has to cerate employment or awareness among the people (Clark, 2017). Creation of employment might need some cost but has a positive impact on people while awareness can be done freely by some elite in the community with or without payment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to note that organ trade can be problematic since the rich tend to take advantage of those who are of a lower class. This is because poor people are desperate for the money so that they can buy their daily bread among other basic needs. Notably, this problem can be solved by creation of job opportunities by the government to the poor people so that they can raise their standards of living and that way they don’t have to sell their body organs. Also, implementation of measures by the government which regulate the selling and buying of organs result to peaceful coexistence of people in a community and is effective in cost.
References
Clark, P. A. (2017). Bioethics: Medical, ethical, and legal perspectives. Rijeka, Croatia.
Cohen, I. (2014). Regulating The Organ Market: Normative Foundations For Market Regulation. Law and Contemporary Problems, 77(3), 71-100. Duke University School of Law. Durham.
Flescher, A. M. (2018). The organ shortage crisis in America: Incentives, civic duty, and closing the gap. Washington, DC : Georgetown University Press.
Jensen, S. (Ed.). (2011). The Ethics of Organ Transplantation. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press.
Tsoulfas, G., & IntechOpen (Firm),. (2018). Organ donation and transplantation: Current status and future challenges.London, Intech Open.
Yousaf, F., & Purkayastha, B. (2016). Social world of organ transplantation, trafficking, and policies. Journal of Public Health Policy, 37(2), 190-199. Palgrave Macmillan Journals. Houndmills.