| When you die, should your family be able to charge for the right to harvest your usable organs for transplants? |
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Asked 3 years ago
by elwyatt  United States |
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About
I'm a geeky electrical engineer, raised in Hawaii, surfer, tennis player, webmaster, entrepreneur, with my own take on things.
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| 6 Points |
The organs clearly have substantial value. Everybody is desperate to get them, and the hospitals, labs, doctors, recipients benefit greatly. For the families, this might be the only available asset, why should they not benefit, too?
It is kind of icky. Who sets the prices? Do you bid out to the highest bidder? Transplant patients sometimes have to wait years for organs. I know one person who died waiting. Are we to create a society where only people who can afford a bidding war get the organs?
I'm listed as an organ donor. I don't want anybody profiting off my organs if I die. That should be a freely given gift from me.
Everybody involved will profit except you and yours. For example, skin is turned into grafting material sold at high prices. I would not be averse to an auction, but even if prices were predetermined, that would be an improvement and likely increase the availability of organs quite a lot. Right now, donors and their families have the right to say yes or no. Most say no. If I have something of value and nobody will offer what it is worth, I'm more likely to say no. This method we have now is contrary to the normal way of doing things, and makes no sense.