How much is a gadget worth?

[VaporPunk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17640209

[HarryT]

A very sad story, and certainly not the first time that a similar thing has happened.

[xg4bx]

hey, its his kidney. he should be able to do whatever he wants with it.

why can one freely donate their organs yet can't sell them? i'd sell a kidney for $35k. why should i give it away for free?

theres a shortage of donated organs. theres a market for people to buy said organs. whats the problem?

[VaporPunk]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

hey, its his kidney. he should be able to do whatever he wants with it.

why can one freely donate their organs yet can't sell them? i'd sell a kidney for $35k. why should i give it away for free?

theres a shortage of donated organs. theres a market for people to buy said organs. whats the problem?

1st, he didn't receive $35K, just $3k.
2nd, he's a 17 year old kid...
3rd, he's suffering from renal failure, which means he's bound to run up more than $3K in medical costs, which society will have to pay for. Unless, of course, you propose just letting him die...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

hey, its his kidney. he should be able to do whatever he wants with it.

why can one freely donate their organs yet can't sell them? i'd sell a kidney for $35k. why should i give it away for free?

theres a shortage of donated organs. theres a market for people to buy said organs. whats the problem?

The problem is that a child has been persuaded to do something that's probably going to affect him medically for the rest of his life, by a gang who are keeping 90% of the money themselves. Do you really see nothing wrong in that?

[Belfaborac]

If he was 18, had approached a reputable kidney harvesting clinic (assuming for a moment that such a thing exists) himself, been properly appraised of all the dangers involved and been paid the lion's share of the value of his kidney, then there'd be no problem at all. Neither seems to be the case, so I'm with Harry and VP.

In happier news, perhaps the surgeon and the rest of the gang will now become kidney donors themselves, considering the last paragraph in the article.

[Billi]

I think even with 17 you are perfectly able to realise what it means to donor a kidney.

[Rob Lister]

Originally Posted by Billi

I think even with 17 you are perfectly able to realise what it means to donor a kidney.

Having raised three boys, and having watched each pass through the age of 17, I really think you're mistaken.

[Belfaborac]

Having at one point been 17, I concur.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Billi

I think even with 17 you are perfectly able to realise what it means to donor a kidney.

Science (THE US NIH, for one) says:
No.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=141164708
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...ain-usat_x.htm

The short of it is that the brain mechanisms that process impulse control, risk/reward assessment, and planning are not fully developed and working properly until the mid 20's.

Insurance compaies have long known this which is why insurance rates for under-25 drivers are significantly higher than for over-25. They also factor in matters such as vehicle type and color so 21 year-ods with red Corvettes pay through the nose. Even if they like the song.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by xg4bx

why can one freely donate their organs yet can't sell them?

The same reason prostitution is illegal in most societies while hooking up isn't.

Crappy Hollywood movies aside, prostitution demostrably leads to exploitation of the immature, incautious, and the desperate (especially the poor). Most societies aspire to be better than that.
(Not all, mind you.)
The topic just happens to be in the news today: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46982519...ew_york_times/)


Organ sales go beyond blood sales (ethically tricky to start with), hair sales, and even prostitution in that they are irrevocable decisions. Once you give up that kidney it won't grow back.

By trying to take the profit motive out of the equation, society tries to protect their most vulnerable from exploitation, which is what the quoted article shows happened.

Not saying there isn't a big international market for illegal organ sales, because there obviously is; but at least the exploiters up the chain are at enough risk to dampen demand.

The poor are exploited enough as is; at least let's not add to their misery.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

The same reason prostitution is illegal in most societies while hooking up isn't.

Actually, prostitution is perfectly legal in the overwhelming majority of countries, including the UK.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Actually, prostitution is perfectly legal in the overwhelming majority of countries, including the UK.

Really?
Mankind has more room to grow than I thought, then.

[Ekaros]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Really?
Mankind has more room to grow than I thought, then.

Is there some problem with it? As long as both parties are consenting in transaction of goods for services is there any problems? Issues comes with human trafficking and being forced to do it. Still, there should exist ways to do it legally.

Organ trading can lead to bad things, and such must be regulated and this kind of things stopped... As most of time it's one time deal, we don't have many spares...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Ekaros

Is there some problem with it? As long as both parties are consenting in transaction of goods for services is there any problems? Issues comes with human trafficking and being forced to do it. Still, there should exist ways to do it legally.

Exactly. In most European countries, the attitude is that it's a "social necessity", and something which is going to happen regardless of what the law says, so it's better to recognise that fact and give those involved the protection of the law.