Arguments against Commercialization of Organ Transplants Order Instructions: Imagine that you are a member of an ethics committee listening to arguments for and against altering the
way in which human organs are obtained for patients in need of transplants.
A new policy to allow the
sale of organs by consenting individuals to patients in need and to medical institutions has been
proposed. Critics argue that permitting organs to be bought and sold is unethical. You have been asked
to review the arguments for and against the commercialization of organ transplants and to construct a
report with your suggested plan of action. Use the Internet or Strayer databases to search for arguments
for and against the commercialization of organ transplants, and then apply the principles learned in
Weeks 1-3 to formulate your report.
Write a three to four (3-4) page paper in which you:
1. Briefly summarize the arguments for and against the commercialization of transplants that you
found in your research.
2. Formulate your position on the debate of whether or not the sale of organs should be permitted.
3. Defend your moral judgment with a moral argument. Identify the moral principle that you are
appealing to in your moral argument.
4. Determine which normative theory best supports your conclusion.
5. Use at least two (2) quality references. (Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as
academic resources.)
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:
? Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all
sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your
professor for any additional instructions.
? Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s
name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in
the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
? Determine the considerations for and the process of ethical business decision making to balance
corporate and social responsibilities and address moral, economic, and legal concerns.
? Analyze selected business situations using the predominant ethical theories, such as utilitarian,
Kantian, and virtue ethics to guide ethical business decision making.
? Use technology and information resources to research issues in business ethics.
? Write clearly and concisely about business ethics using proper writing mechanics.
Arguments against Commercialization of Organ Transplants Sample Answer
Arguments against the Commercialization of Organ Transplants
One of the most common human organs that are transplanted is the kidney. In almost all countries around the globe, there is a shortage of kidneys needed for patients. This is one reason that has greatly contributed to the controversy of whether these much-needed organs for transplant can be commercialized. By commercializing these transplants, it will mean that the for-profit system is being adapted. This is because donors will be profiting from donating their organs. One of the arguments against the organ transplants is that the vendors will only do so because they endure poverty to a very great extent such that they have no other choice but to sell their organs (Mazaris et al., 2011). Thus, this argument implies that they are simply doing so against their will, but because their circumstances force them. In other words, they view this as exploitation of the poor.
Second, another argument is that the individuals tempted to sell are ignorant, and, thus, do not have the competence needed to complete the transaction (Hoyer, 2006). This argument has been based on the fact that individuals are simply selling because of the money, but they are unaware of the other health risks they will be placing themselves in. Thus, commercializing this will provide ground for people to aimlessly donate just so they can get money, while also risking their lives. The third argument is that these sales are unjust as a result of the huge income gaps, which ends up motivating individuals to sell organs. Most people who are hoping to be donors do so because of the unfair treatment they experience everywhere because of how they cannot afford almost everything expensive (Mazaris et al., 2011). Lastly, another argument against this commercialization is that donations for free, can be acceptable, but the sale of organs that are highly motivated by greed for money is not.
Arguments for the Commercialization of Organ Transplants
Other groups and individuals have also presented arguments for the commercialization of organ transplants. First, there is an argument that commercializing this trade of organs is important as it presents a strictly regulated market, as compared to the illegal market where donors are placed at risk (Hoyer, 2006). The legal market provides high treatment standards, which are also ensured for all donors, thus these can be justly distributed. This argument basically implies that commercializing this sale will do away with the unsafe procedures commonly handled under poor medical standards. Therefore, individuals will not have to go to these unsafe places whenever they need to sell organs, but instead, they will go to safe places such as hospitals as they will have nothing to hide from (Mazaris et al., 2011). Second, it will not be considered unfair when organs are priced at the level of an annual average salary. This is because every individual will be considered equal, thus creating an equally attractive option for both the poor and rich. This is because illegal markets offer small amounts of money for donors while commercializing this sale legally will lead to a universal price that applies to people in all social groups.
Third, with a strictly regulated market, many family members will feel saved from the pressure applied upon them when they are expected to donate an organ for a relative. This is very important because not all individuals feel comfortable donating, however, when a family member gets ill and requires donations; they are frequently forced simply because they are family (Hoyer, 2006). This is very unfair, and the situation can be salvaged by having organs to purchase, instead of waiting for donations. Lastly, arguing for the commercialization of organ transplants is also because some people make anonymous donations. This implies that some give it from the bottom of their hearts and not only on family-related situations or social grounds. Therefore, if such incentives including social and altruistic motives are acceptable, then there is no need to prohibit financial incentives.
Arguments against Commercialization of Organ Transplants Current Position on this Debate
Considering the arguments above, my position on it is that the commercialization of organ transplants should be permitted. After analyzing the arguments above, I can now understand where both arguments are coming from. Those against the commercialization base their arguments on claims that this step will further lead to the unfair treatment of poor people (Mazaris et al., 2011). Most of these people are uneducated, and will, therefore, not understand the implications of their actions on their health. Since they really need the money, they will simply offer their organs for any small amount to enable them to survive a few more weeks. The group of individuals who are for the idea bases their arguments on the fact that illegal markets are present and will keep on functioning while risking the lives of donors as a result of poor medical standards since they are hiding from the authorities. They also support the idea as the unfair treatment will be reduced since a universal price will be set for organs (Hoyer, 2006). Thus, everyone will find this option attractive as a result of the present conditions and incentives. Lastly, it will cater to the limited supply of organs that lead to family members being pressured into donating even though they are unwilling.
Arguments against Commercialization of Organ Transplants Support for my Argument
The reason why I support this judgment is that it will reduce most of the unethical situations going around in the world. For example, by neglecting the commercialization of organ transportations, illegal markets will be promoted. Such markets are usually characterized by various illegal activities such as human trafficking, kidnappings, murder and many more. Villains will try to make a point of ensuring that they misuse the people around them so that they can benefit from the few cash offered after giving organs. This is wrong because everyone has the right to make a choice of whether they will give out organs or not. By legalizing the idea, such activities will be reduced drastically as individuals will prefer better treatment standards, which will also offer better incentives in terms of cash. The moral principle being appealed to by the above moral judgment is that it is right to let individuals make their own decisions on whether to donate their organs or not, and it is wrong to pressure or force individuals to do the same.
Normative Theory that Supports the above Conclusion
The normative theory that best supports this theory is that of ethical relativism. This is because there are no universal standards of what should qualify as right or wrong. Everything depends on what each individual thinks of it. The conclusion above can be supported by this theory in the sense that not everyone thinks that selling organs is wrong. However, people should not be forced to do so as noted in the illegal markets. Thus, the best option is to let everyone make his or her own choices by providing a fair, safe, and strictly regulated marketplace.
Arguments against Commercialization of Organ Transplants References
Hoyer, P. (2006). Commercial living non-related organ transplantation: a viewpoint from a developed country. Pediatric Nephrology, 21(10), 1364-1368. doi:10.1007/s00467-006-0169-4
Mazaris, E. M., Crane, J. S., Warrens, A. N., Smith, G., Tekkis, P., & Papalois, V. E. (2011). Attitudes toward live donor kidney transplantation and its commercialization. Clinical Transplantation, 25(3), E312-E319. doi:10.1111/j.1399-0012.2011.01418.x
