Difference between revisions of "Organ Trafficking"
(New page: Organ Trafficking: A Booming Black Market Organ transplantation, starting as an ambiguous and experimental surgical procedure in the 1950s, has developed over the past sixty years and bec...) |
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Organ Trafficking: A Booming Black Market | Organ Trafficking: A Booming Black Market | ||
| − | Organ transplantation, starting as an ambiguous and experimental surgical procedure in the 1950s, has developed over the past sixty years and become a widely beneficial treatment carried out in hospitals worldwide. | + | Organ transplantation, starting as an ambiguous and experimental surgical procedure in the 1950s, has developed over the past sixty years and become a widely beneficial treatment carried out in hospitals worldwide.<ref>Scheper-Hughes, Nancy. 2000. “Postmodern Cannibalism-Black Market Trade of Human Organs” from Whole Earth. Available at BNET Business Network at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0GER/is_2000_Summer/ai_63500744?tag=untagged</ref> Organ transplantation is the “established treatment for the failure of vital organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, liver, heart or lung,” with kidney transplant being the most common.<ref>The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. 2004. “Organ Transplants.” postnote 231:1-4. Available at http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/POSTpn231.pdf</ref> By 2000, kidney transplants were being conducted in “the U.S., in most European and Asian countries, in several South American and Middle Eastern countries, and in four African nations.”<ref>Scheper-Hughes 2000:1</ref> |
| − | With the use and spread of technologies, organ transplants are now saving lives throughout the world. Because of this, there is an increasing global demand for organs. Unfortunately, supply has not been able to keep up with this high demand. In the U.S. alone, there are about 80,000 people waiting to receive an organ | + | With the use and spread of technologies, organ transplants are now saving lives throughout the world. Because of this, there is an increasing global demand for organs. Unfortunately, supply has not been able to keep up with this high demand. In the U.S. alone, there are about 80,000 people waiting to receive an organ<ref>Handwerk, Brian. 2004. “Organ Shortage Fuels Illicit Trade in Human Parts” from National Geographic News. Available at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/01/0116_040116_EXPLorgantraffic.html</ref> and yearly, about 10 percent of people waiting for a heart transplant die because there is none available.<ref>Rothman, D.J., E. Rose, T. Awaya, B. Cohen, A. Daar, S.L. Dzemeshkevich, C.J. Lee, R. Munro, H. Reyes, S.M. Rothman, K.F. Schoen, N. Scheper-Hughes, Z. Shapiroa, and H. Smit. 1997. “The Bellagio Task Force Report on Transplantation, Bodily Integrity, and International Traffic in Organs.” Extract from Transplantation Proceedings 29:2739-45. Available from the International Committee of the Red Cross at http://www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/iwpList302/87DC95FCA3C3D63EC1256B66005B3F6C</ref> No countries but Belgium, Austria, and Spain have been able to satisfy the demands of its people.<ref>Rothman et al. 1997</ref> |
| − | This shortage of organs is largely due to religious and/or cultural barriers. In many Middle Eastern Islamic countries, religion discourages organ donation from cadavers, “[emphasizing] the need to maintain the integrity of the body at burial.” | + | This shortage of organs is largely due to religious and/or cultural barriers. In many Middle Eastern Islamic countries, religion discourages organ donation from cadavers, “[emphasizing] the need to maintain the integrity of the body at burial.”<ref>Rothman et al. 1997:2</ref> The same is seen in very orthodox Jewish traditions as well as many Asian countries because of high respect for elders. While there are some traditional and religious people from these backgrounds who have accepted organ donation and sanctioned it “as a gift of life,” many people denounce it and “transplantation from cadaveric sources is rare.”<ref>Rothman et al. 1997:2</ref> In western countries as well, many people are opposed to letting their dead relatives become organ donors. Throughout the world, people in need of an organ rely mostly on living kin.<ref>Rothman et al. 1997</ref> |
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==A Black Market Trade== | ==A Black Market Trade== | ||
| − | Because there is such a scarcity of organs in a time when demand is so high, the selling of organs for profit has become increasingly popular. In most countries, selling organs, or organ trafficking, is illegal; therefore, this activity has given rise to a prominent black market trade. | + | Because there is such a scarcity of organs in a time when demand is so high, the selling of organs for profit has become increasingly popular. In most countries, selling organs, or organ trafficking, is illegal; therefore, this activity has given rise to a prominent black market trade.<ref>Handwerk 2004</ref> |
According to the United Nations (UN), organ trafficking is an organized crime that can occur in three different ways. First, traffickers may force or trick their victims into giving up one of their organs. Second, a victim will undergo surgery for an illness that may or may not exist. During the procedure an organ is removed from the victim without knowledge. Third, victims may “agree to sell an organ and are cheated because they are not paid for the organ or are paid less than the promised price.” The last scenario is an example of what occurs with black market organ trade. | According to the United Nations (UN), organ trafficking is an organized crime that can occur in three different ways. First, traffickers may force or trick their victims into giving up one of their organs. Second, a victim will undergo surgery for an illness that may or may not exist. During the procedure an organ is removed from the victim without knowledge. Third, victims may “agree to sell an organ and are cheated because they are not paid for the organ or are paid less than the promised price.” The last scenario is an example of what occurs with black market organ trade. | ||
Revision as of 13:27, 11 February 2009
Organ Trafficking: A Booming Black Market
Organ transplantation, starting as an ambiguous and experimental surgical procedure in the 1950s, has developed over the past sixty years and become a widely beneficial treatment carried out in hospitals worldwide.[1] Organ transplantation is the “established treatment for the failure of vital organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, liver, heart or lung,” with kidney transplant being the most common.[2] By 2000, kidney transplants were being conducted in “the U.S., in most European and Asian countries, in several South American and Middle Eastern countries, and in four African nations.”[3]
With the use and spread of technologies, organ transplants are now saving lives throughout the world. Because of this, there is an increasing global demand for organs. Unfortunately, supply has not been able to keep up with this high demand. In the U.S. alone, there are about 80,000 people waiting to receive an organ[4] and yearly, about 10 percent of people waiting for a heart transplant die because there is none available.[5] No countries but Belgium, Austria, and Spain have been able to satisfy the demands of its people.[6]
This shortage of organs is largely due to religious and/or cultural barriers. In many Middle Eastern Islamic countries, religion discourages organ donation from cadavers, “[emphasizing] the need to maintain the integrity of the body at burial.”[7] The same is seen in very orthodox Jewish traditions as well as many Asian countries because of high respect for elders. While there are some traditional and religious people from these backgrounds who have accepted organ donation and sanctioned it “as a gift of life,” many people denounce it and “transplantation from cadaveric sources is rare.”[8] In western countries as well, many people are opposed to letting their dead relatives become organ donors. Throughout the world, people in need of an organ rely mostly on living kin.[9]
