Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Organ donation...

Interesting article. I don't really have a firm opinion on it, as this is an extremely controversial and complex issue, but it was a good read nonetheless.
http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/news/2007/05/india_transplants_donorpolicy

In any case, with the atrocities that are occurring all over the world when it comes to organ markets and human rights (i.e. body brokers profiting off of human suffering, encouraging impoverished people to sell their organs, governments selling the organs of political prisoners, etc.), coupled with the reality that many people die before receiving the organs they need, definitely calls for some kind of reform of the organ-donor system.

This article is thought-provoking and discusses a variety of opinions.

Also, take a look at the current going prices for organs in different parts of the world:

Kidney
$15,000-40,000 Pakistan $20,000 Iraq $25,000 Russia $35,000-85,000 Philippines $65,000 China $80,000 Colombia $120,000 South Africa $145,000 Turkey
Lung
$150,000-170,000 China $290,000 Singapore $290,000 South Africa $290,000 South Korea $290,000 Taiwan
Liver
$25,000 Egypt $25,000 Pakistan $60,000-130,000 China $100,000 Colombia $100,000 Philippines $290,000 Singapore $290,000 South Africa $290,000 South Korea $290,000 Taiwan
Pancreas
$110,000 China $140,000 Singapore $140,000 South Africa $140,000 South Korea $140,000 Taiwan
Heart
$90,000 Colombia $130,000-160,000 China $290,000 South Africa $290,000 South Korea $290,000 Taiwan $290,000 Singapore

(Prices taken from: http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.04/start_page7.html)

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