In order to discuss the mechanisms associated with the sale of human organs, we must first suspend some of the ethical and moral issues that surround this idea. We already know that the need or in economic terms the demand for human organs suitable for transplant greatly exceeds the supply. It is also likely that a black market exists in the sale of human organs, and that wealthy people are the primary beneficiaries.
Organizations such as the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) work with the families of certain terminally ill or injured patients to try to convince people to voluntarily donate their organs after death to live patients. A single donor can help literally dozens of people with various tissue and organ donation including skin, corneas, and heart, lungs, liver and kidney transplants. According to Cory SerVaas, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a nonprofit organization that operates the nation's 24-hour computerized organ-sharing system and works to increase organ donation. He adds that decisions made about allocation of donated organs are made on the basis of the need of the patient rather on the wealth of the patient (SerVaas, 36).
In this paper, we are asked to consider the straightforward mechanisms of supply and demand in establishing a market for healthy organs needed for transplantation. Undoubtedly there are incidences around the world in which healthy but poor individuals might be willing to sell an organ, such as a kidney, for cash. The ethics of harvesting this organ and transplanting it are questionable at best.
However, in this case study, we are asked to consider a mechanism that would provide financial incentives for family members with the legal authority to permit the harvesting for sale of organs post mortem. Clearly, there are medical ethical dilemmas that would need to be addressed, such as whether doctors would be willing to participate in the transplant of a purchased o...