Needs Some Money? Why Not Flog a Lung?

Apparently there is a active and growing market in organs.  Ok, so I guess people may not wake up in a bath of ice with a kidney or two missing, if nothing else the surgical skills necessary to do that are pretty steep, and the risks pretty darn high.  However, economics tells us something pretty darn simple about organ donation.  If people want organs enough, and are able to pay enough, people will supply them.  Its pretty simple logic really. If I have, or can gain access to £100,000 and need a kidney or I’ll die then chances are I’ll pay £100,000 for that chance of life.

Given then, simple logic of supply and demand, the high level of risk, illegality, and unpleasantness of having an organ removed must mean that supply is pretty low, and demand, as pre-noted is pretty high.  Demand will be pretty inelastic then, unlike a nice fresh Kidney, which has a nice spring to it! 

So, its not surprising then that we see such a bit trade in organs.  Furthermore it may very well not be a bad thing.  Say you’re a young person wanted a step up on the housing ladder, or a new car.  Selling a kidney could be just the thing to start you off.  Maybe you’ll make £30,000, enough for a deposit on a house at least.  Chances are you won’t need your second kidney, and even if you do need it when you’re older, you can always buy a new one right?  Maybe partly fund it by remortgaging your house?  Not only that, but some poor guy who needs a kidney or their going to die gets a kidney.  After all, not many people will give one up for free!!

Legalizing organ for money transfers, within strict legal guides, just seems to make sense,  it has the potential to benefit a wide range of people at no ones cost.  This must define good policy.