Get your body parts for cheap, here!
I was watching the news earlier today and one of the stories raised a bit of a moral dilemna for me.The piece was about a Canadian man who needed a liver (or kidney) transplant. It wasn't a life or death situation, though offhand I can't remember the reason for it. Facing wait times of about eight months in Canada, he took his issue to Pakistan. There he found a poor Pakistani man who was a match, making him suitable for donating his organ. The Canadian man paid this guy $3,000 for the donation.
My dilemna here is...
I'm happy the man's troublesome situation can be resolved, and that he can go on to live a healthier life. He was resourceful in going to another country to help himself, and if others do it, many more lives can be saved, instead of waiting anxiously on a list for such a long period of time for a donor.
However, this whole situation sucks because I get the feeling (if it hasn't been going on already) that with this story it'll become a trend among those in First World countries going to those lesser off and exploiting their people for their body parts in exchange for nothing in comparison to what they're losing. Sure there's a financial benefit to the poor donor, but what's $3,000 going to do for them when they start having complications from the surgery or any other number of things that can come out of that.
The issue scared me a little, as I envisioned Third World humans simply being used for their parts as rich First Worlders came in and took what they wanted. I hope that doesn't become the case and someone can do something about it before it inevitably does. The cost of saving one life in exchange for a life not worth much to begin with isn't a fair deal. It's still a life no matter what the financial or societal difference.
Peace.
posted by Sean @ 10:21 PM
Comments: 3
