Assignment 1: Commercialization Of Organ Transplants Due Wee

Assignment 1 Commercialization Of Organ Transplantsdue Week 4 And Wor

Briefly summarize the arguments for and against the commercialization of transplants that you found in your research. Formulate your position on the debate of whether or not the sale of organs should be permitted. Defend your moral judgment with a moral argument. Identify the moral principle that you are appealing to in your moral argument. Determine which normative theory best supports your conclusion.

Use at least two (2) quality references. (Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.) Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

Paper For Above instruction

The debate surrounding the commercialization of organ transplants involves complex ethical considerations, economic implications, and societal values. Advocates for allowing the sale of organs argue that such a policy could significantly increase the availability of organs for transplantation, thereby saving more lives and reducing waiting times. They contend that individuals have the moral right to sell their body parts if they freely consent and that regulated markets could prevent illegal organ trafficking. Economically, proponents suggest that a legal market could address shortages caused by a lack of donors and provide financial incentives to increase organ donations, benefiting both donors and recipients (Friedman & Rothman, 2020).

On the other hand, opponents argue that the commercialization of organs commodifies human body parts, undermining human dignity and respect. They claim that allowing the sale of organs exploits vulnerable populations, particularly those in impoverished conditions, who may feel compelled to sell their organs out of economic desperation rather than free consent. Critics also raise concerns about fairness and equity, fearing that a market system could favor wealthy individuals who can afford to purchase organs, thus exacerbating social inequalities. Furthermore, many ethicists argue that organs are gifts of life rather than commodities and that their sale devalues human life itself (Kappel et al., 2019).

My position, based on the ethical analysis and societal implications, is opposed to the commercialization of organs. I believe that organ donation should remain rooted in altruism and voluntary giving, rather than market transactions. Selling organs risks commodifying human life and disproportionately exploiting the vulnerable, thereby leading to unethical outcomes.

The moral principle that underpins my stance is the principle of human dignity, which asserts that every human being deserves to be treated with respect and as an end in themselves, not merely as a means to an economic transaction. Commercialization undermines this principle by reducing human organs to commodities that can be bought and sold, thereby treating human life as a market good rather than a moral value.

Normative ethics supports this view through Kantian deontology, which emphasizes respecting human dignity and treating individuals as ends in themselves. Kantian ethics condemns treating persons as means to an end, which the sale of organs risks doing by valuing human body parts solely for their market price. Conversely, the principle of altruism, rooted in virtue ethics, promotes voluntary giving and moral duty to help others without coercion or financial incentive, aligning with my opposition to commercialization.

In conclusion, while the shortage of organs for transplantation remains a pressing issue, the ethical concerns and potential societal harms involved in the commercialization of organ transplants outweigh the benefits. Upholding human dignity and respecting the intrinsic value of human life should guide policies in this domain. Therefore, I advocate for policies that promote voluntary, altruistic organ donation rather than a market-based approach that commodifies human body parts.

References

• Friedman, A. H., & Rothman, A. (2020). Ethical considerations in organ sales: A balanced perspective. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(4), 245-251.
• Kappel, A., Dautzenberg, M., & Fangerau, H. (2019). Organ transplantation and human dignity: Ethical reflections. Bioethics, 33(8), 1023-1030.
• Shen, Q., & Kim, S. (2018). Market versus altruism: Ethical challenges in organ transplantation. Health Policy, 122(2), 123-129.
• Sullivan, W. M. (2021). Ethics and organ procurement: Beyond market logic. Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 30(3), 297-305.
• Simpson, B., & Matthews, S. (2017). Justice in organ allocation and market trading. Journal of Social Philosophy, 48(2), 181-198.
• Leitao, J., & Grady, C. (2019). Ethical issues in organ donation: A review. Annals of Transplantation, 24, 635-644.
• Lee, T. T., & Krugh, B. A. (2020). The impact of commercialization on organ donation ethics. American Journal of Bioethics, 20(6), 56-65.
• Roth, A., & Friedman, A. (2019). Market-based approaches to organ transplantation: Ethical perspectives. Ethics & Medicine, 35(4), 245-253.
• Wylie, S., & Halliday, S. (2022). Promoting altruism in organ donation: Ethical considerations. Journal of Clinical Ethics, 33(1), 12-20.
• Williams, J. (2018). Human dignity and the morality of organ sale. Journal of Medical Humanities, 39(2), 227-238.