Exam 8: Organ Transplants and Scarce Medical Resources

Radcliffe-Richards argues that the disgust that we may feel at the thought of selling kidneys is sufficient reason for us to deny people treatments they need.

The fact that transplant surgery is expensive is the only major problem that transplant surgery faces.

Emanuel and Wertheimer argue that, in a situation where there is only a limited amount of vaccine to prevent a loss of life, priority status for the vaccine should be given to those working to on producing and distributing the vaccine.

The market approach to organ allocation puts a high value on rights, according to Annas.

Kidneys are the only organs transplanted from living donors.

Cohen and Benjamin believe that it is feasible to require physicians to examine the moral character of all of their patients when deciding who is most eligible to receive a transplant organ.

Appel argues that the life expectancy of a death row inmate should be considered relevant to a transplant decision and, thus, death row inmates should not be allowed to be candidates for kidney transplants.

Phadke and Anandh believe that the selling of organs for transplant should remain illegal.

It is currently illegal in the U.S. to buy and sell solid human organs.

Annas believes that, barring cases of immediate need, organs should be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

In a "required response" state people have to declare if they wish to become organ donors when they renew their driver's licenses.

Policies of presumed consent frequently solve the organ shortage in the countries in which they are enacted.

Allowing organ sales would seem to be required by respect for bodily autonomy.

Personal wealth can provide an advantage in the current system of organ allocation in the U.S.

In an organ market the rich would necessarily exploit the poor.