Selling Organs Should Not Be Legalized

Organ donation affects hundreds of thousands of people and their families worldwide. At the end of October 2008, more than 100,000 people were waiting for an organ in the United States alone. Unfortunately, the number of donors is nowhere near that figure. The development of organ transplantation as a standard medical procedure denotes that there is a substantial demand for organs than is adequate to fulfill the current needs (Barber 234). If the organs were readily available as needed, thousands of lives could be saved each year. However, an organ market would redefine the act of donating organs and would in turn decline organ contributions (Childress 71).
Admittedly, many would argue that the legalization of organ markets is both morally ethical and beneficial for the country. For example, some citizens feel it is the American way to allow people be free to auction their individual organs and do whatever they desire with their bodies. Additionally, many plainly declare that sale would increase the supply and not diminish the percentage of altruistic donation (Rothman 70). Finally, advocators for legalization state that it would be a natural incentive to help escalate the amount of donations. To summarize, supporters of organ selling believe that financial benefits might encourage people to donate and should be a normal part of a free enterprise system. Indeed, many might believe legalization of the selling of organs is beneficial. However, organ markets should continue to stay illegal in the United States because selling is unjust, promotes unhealthy greed, and devalues human life.
Initially, selling should not be legalized because it is unjust. For instance, there is a strong economic motive for low-income families to sell their organs yet none for wealthy people to do so. Likewise, the risk of coercion and exploitation, specially of poor people, is considerable. Some insist the rich have been habitually prepared to allow underprivileged individuals to do