Human Organs’ Market: Business and Cultural Implications Essay

Introduction

Globalization and technological advancement have introduced issues that challenge business activities’ ethical, legal and cultural implications. Recent technological changes have significantly impacted the field of medicine. Research holds that in the past year, 17,000 kidney transplants were performed in the U.S., while 8,000 people lost their lives before they could receive a kidney transplant (Martin et al., 2019). The fact is, that people are in dire need of kidneys, and with improved technology, kidney transplants could save many lives. The great need for kidneys and the availability of willing donors raise the question of ethical, cultural, and business implications of selling human organs.

Main body

Human organs are valuable, but not everything should be priced. A monetary value should not be attached to human organs. If all people could sell their organs, the human body would be viewed as a commodity, which is unethical. The poor may die of lack of money to purchase kidneys. The human organs market may contribute to crime as some people may be killed or forced to sell out their kidneys and other organs (Martin et al., 2019). While there is a need for kidneys, commercializing it would break the moral fabric of society. A similar product prohibited from being sold by society is blood. Blood transfusion happens almost daily, and people are willing to save lives through blood donations. It is against cultural values to sell blood and body organs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the commercialization of human organs would be beneficial to the medical field as it would help save many lives. However, the increased crime rates and erosion of cultural values are demerits that outweigh the benefits. Society should cultivate a willingness to donate rather than encourage the sale of human organs.

Work Cited

Martin, D. E., Van Assche, K., Domínguez-Gil, B., López-Fraga, M., García Gallont, R., Muller, E., & Capron, A. M. (2019). Strengthening global efforts to combat organ trafficking and transplant tourism: Implications of the 2018 edition of the declaration of Istanbul.Transplantation Direct, 5(3), e433.