Web-based kidney match raises ethics questions

[wdlove]

A Colorado man in need of a kidney listed himself on a Massachusettes bas website. It cost him $250 a month to have his name listed. A compasionate man has offered to donate. The transplant surgeon had ethical questions, but the surgery will now go ahead.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2004/10/20/web_based_kidney_match_raises_ethics_questions/

[emw]

I'm glad they decided to go ahead with it - we're talking about someone's life here.

My question is, why does the web site cost so much? Another instance of if you have enough money, you'll get good health care? I would think that if they charged a more modest fee, it would be fair to everyone.

[wdlove]

The transplant was successfully completed. I'm not really sure why the cost of $250. The wealthy have always gotten special privileges and they always will.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/10/21/ill_man_finds_kidney_on_internet/

[Daveman Deluxe]

For what it's worth, economics researchers have determined that if organs could be bought and sold on an open market, there would be more donors AND the cost of organ replacement would actually be lower. Of course, that doesn't mitigate the difficulty of finding a donor to match the patient.

[wdlove]

For what it's worth, economics researchers have determined that if organs could be bought and sold on an open market, there would be more donors AND the cost of organ replacement would actually be lower. Of course, that doesn't mitigate the difficulty of finding a donor to match the patient.

I think that organ donation is better left on a voluntary basis. The talk of lower cost never seems to pan out. There would just be too much greed involved. The real future might be in using adult stem cells to create new organs. The problem of organ rejection is a real problem. The side effect of treating rejection has the side effects of infection and cancer.

[srobert]

Hmm... Organ Pedlers (http://homepage.mac.com/srobert/.Pictures/Other%20pics/OrganPeddler.wav) Kinda weird

Makes me think of those urban legends of people waking up in bathtubs full of ice with one of their kidney missing. scary.

[Daveman Deluxe]

I think that organ donation is better left on a voluntary basis. The talk of lower cost never seems to pan out. There would just be too much greed involved. The real future might be in using adult stem cells to create new organs. The problem of organ rejection is a real problem. The side effect of treating rejection has the side effects of infection and cancer.

If greed saves lives, I don't see how it's necessarily a bad thing, although I'm with you on the stem-cell side of the issue.

[wdlove]

If greed saves lives, I don't see how it's necessarily a bad thing, although I'm with you on the stem-cell side of the issue.

The greed could lead to corruption. It could end up with only the privileged getting the organs. The current regulations keep the use of available organs on a level playing field.