Legalize the Sale of Human Kidneys in United States

About 350,000 Americans suffer from end-stage renal disease, a kidney disorder so advanced that the organ ceases to function (Finkel).

These victims are in need of new organs in order to stay alive, but the problem is not enough kidneys are donated to provide adequate transplants for everyone.

Those placed on a wait list typically have to spend years before they even have the chance of receiving their new kidney. Most victims die while waiting; in fact, In the year 2000 alone, 2,583 Americans died while waiting for a kidney transplant (Goyal, Mehta, Schneiderman, and Sehgal). The number of deaths worldwide is around 50,000.

However, there is a solution to this large problem: legalize the sale of human kidneys in the United States. Legalization and the promise of monetary profit to donors would provide the incentive needed to convince more people to donate their organs.

Thousands of lives would be saved through this process, and America as a world leader would set the stage for more countries to legalize the sale of kidneys. Regulation is a must, of course, in order to allow complete fairness in monetary compensation. With this process in place, new hope and new life can be given to those needing this valuable organ.

Finkel, Michael. “This Little Kidney Went to Market.” New York Times Magazine. New York: May 27, 2001.

Goyal, M., Mehta, R., Schneiderman, L., and Sehgal, A. “Economic and Health Consequences of Selling a Kidney in India.” Journal of the American Medical Association. October 2, 2002. 288, 13, 1589-92.