If we truely are a capitalist society...why is it illegal to sell a kidney

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her209

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
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I'm trying to think of a good reason why we shouldn't but can't think of anything. I mean, after all, the pharmaceutical companies do gouge people on "life saving" medicines and procedures.
 
S

Scrooge2

Senior member
Jul 18, 2000
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we're not completely a capitalist society, we have elements of socialism. But mainly the kidney business is because of ethics. Politicians don't want there to be a price on human organs, as they are afraid putting a price on human body parts would create a market for them making you as a person, a comodity to be bought and sold. While some may argue this is already happening, politicians will tell you legalizing the sale of kidneys and such would lead to a rampant degree of this. This COULD translate into people killing for body parts.
 
Fritzo

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
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I think it has to do with moral considerations. "You need a body part that I can spare...now I can give it to you if you have enough money. If not, you die"

Also, I'm sure it would start some kind of organ harvesting trade.
 
Fritzo

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
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Originally posted by: her209
I'm trying to think of a good reason why we shouldn't but can't think of anything. I mean, after all, the pharmaceutical companies do gouge people on "life saving" medicines and procedures.
Click to expand...

They do that, but if you truely can't afford medication you need to live, every pharmaceutical company actually has a program set up where they will give you reduced cost/free medication. People just don't take advantage of it or don't know about it.
 
S

Scrooge2

Senior member
Jul 18, 2000
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It's the same reason for banning stem cell research. There's the fear of starting a trade, but I think it's mostly a moral/ethical issue that has to do with partisan politics.
 
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newmachineoverlord

Senior member
Jan 22, 2006
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Same reason you can't sell blood. They don't want poor people to have another potential source of income. Also FUD about disease transmission, which can happen anyways with "donated" blood and organs. (Transfusion transmitted infections include hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2 and syphilis. Kevin Peter Hall, who played the predator, died from transfusion transmitted aids after a car accident.) They can have my blood when they're willing to pay fair market value for it, not before. Since only people with money/health insurance can afford to get blood transfusions, the blood distribution system is another means of transferring wealth from the poor to the rich. If I could donate blood and be sure that it was going to someone who made less than 25k/year with no benefits, then I might do it.

As for organ sales, the fear is that some people would then be killed for sale by parts in chop shops. This is certainly a valid concern. Do you really want a bank to be able to reposses your kidney and a lung if you lose your job and miss a couple payments on your mortgage?
 
Linflas

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
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Originally posted by: newmachineoverlord
Same reason you can't sell blood. They don't want poor people to have another potential source of income. Also FUD about disease transmission, which can happen anyways with "donated" blood and organs. (Transfusion transmitted infections include hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2 and syphilis. Kevin Peter Hall, who played the predator, died from transfusion transmitted aids after a car accident.) They can have my blood when they're willing to pay fair market value for it, not before. Since only people with money/health insurance can afford to get blood transfusions, the blood distribution system is another means of transferring wealth from the poor to the rich. If I could donate blood and be sure that it was going to someone who made less than 25k/year with no benefits, then I might do it.

As for organ sales, the fear is that some people would then be killed for sale by parts in chop shops. This is certainly a valid concern. Do you really want a bank to be able to reposses your kidney and a lung if you lose your job and miss a couple payments on your mortgage?
Click to expand...

You can't sell blood? I "sold" blood way back when I was in the military for a duty day off. I thought that you could "donate" blood for cash once every however long it takes to recover from it.
 
P

Patt

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
5,288
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81
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: her209
I'm trying to think of a good reason why we shouldn't but can't think of anything. I mean, after all, the pharmaceutical companies do gouge people on "life saving" medicines and procedures.
Click to expand...

They do that, but if you truely can't afford medication you need to live, every pharmaceutical company actually has a program set up where they will give you reduced cost/free medication. People just don't take advantage of it or don't know about it.
Click to expand...

Links/Proof?
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,402
8,574
126
Originally posted by: Patt
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: her209
I'm trying to think of a good reason why we shouldn't but can't think of anything. I mean, after all, the pharmaceutical companies do gouge people on "life saving" medicines and procedures.
Click to expand...

They do that, but if you truely can't afford medication you need to live, every pharmaceutical company actually has a program set up where they will give you reduced cost/free medication. People just don't take advantage of it or don't know about it.
Click to expand...

Links/Proof?
Click to expand...

merck
lilly
gsk
schering plough
 
CKent

CKent

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
9,020
0
0
Because there's no fat cats paying for the legislation, waiting to take a cut of your profit.
 
A

ailetlvo

Member
Jul 24, 2005
174
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0
What if your other kidney fvcks up? You sold one of them, so now you get pwned unless you go get a kidney transplant. Just leave it in there, you may not think you need it now, but who knows what will happen?
 
P

phatj

Golden Member
Mar 21, 2003
1,837
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Originally posted by: newmachineoverlord
Same reason you can't sell blood. They don't want poor people to have another potential source of income. Also FUD about disease transmission, which can happen anyways with "donated" blood and organs. (Transfusion transmitted infections include hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2 and syphilis. Kevin Peter Hall, who played the predator, died from transfusion transmitted aids after a car accident.) They can have my blood when they're willing to pay fair market value for it, not before. Since only people with money/health insurance can afford to get blood transfusions, the blood distribution system is another means of transferring wealth from the poor to the rich. If I could donate blood and be sure that it was going to someone who made less than 25k/year with no benefits, then I might do it.

As for organ sales, the fear is that some people would then be killed for sale by parts in chop shops. This is certainly a valid concern. Do you really want a bank to be able to reposses your kidney and a lung if you lose your job and miss a couple payments on your mortgage?
Click to expand...




Here in Cleveland Ohio more than half the people that I see getting blood transfusions are poor black people on medicaid/medicare. These programs transfer wealth from rich to poor.

edit: I work in a hospital
 
her209

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
0
Originally posted by: newmachineoverlord
Same reason you can't sell blood. They don't want poor people to have another potential source of income. Also FUD about disease transmission, which can happen anyways with "donated" blood and organs. (Transfusion transmitted infections include hepatitis B and C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 and 2 and syphilis. Kevin Peter Hall, who played the predator, died from transfusion transmitted aids after a car accident.) They can have my blood when they're willing to pay fair market value for it, not before. Since only people with money/health insurance can afford to get blood transfusions, the blood distribution system is another means of transferring wealth from the poor to the rich. If I could donate blood and be sure that it was going to someone who made less than 25k/year with no benefits, then I might do it.

As for organ sales, the fear is that some people would then be killed for sale by parts in chop shops. This is certainly a valid concern. Do you really want a bank to be able to reposses your kidney and a lung if you lose your job and miss a couple payments on your mortgage?
Click to expand...
The "man" is trying to keep us down.
 
C

chambersc

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2005
6,247
0
0
quality > quantity.

btw, we don't live in a "truely capitalist society" for if we did monoplies would be running the world.
 
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