Most modern countries have prohibitions on the trading of human organs in the marketplace
What impact do you believe such laws have had on the availability of organs for patients that need them? Furthermore, which people are most likely to be able to obtain the organs that they require and why? Explain the ethical dilemma that is at work that makes the strict application of basic economic principles difficult to put into practice in cases like this.
This is likely to have the effect of creating a shortage of organs. The reason is fairly simple. If organs were available for sale perhaps more people might be willing to offer the organs of their deceased family members on the market. Yet at a price of zero there are likely to be many eager customers without the corresponding number of organs available. Making them available for sale in the market might actually eliminate the shortage. The difficulty in applying this basic economic principle is that we do not as a society consider human organs to be a commodity that can be bought and sold. There is also the ethical problem that may arise when someone wishes to "hold out" for more money with an eager and willing patient who perhaps cannot "afford" the price. However, even under a system where organs cannot be legally traded there may be ways for richer patients to get around the rules by making donations to hospitals in a transparent attempt to influence their decision.
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