I just received a call from one of our state Senators. It seems that the Senate is considering policy changes regarding the legal buying and selling of human organs within the United States. Our Senator has contacted several hospitals in the area, asking for their input on this issue. He has asked that our ethics committee consider the issue and recommend a policy on the sale of organs, to help him think through the issue.

This issue isn’t just hypothetical; in fact one of our own doctors has a patient planning to purchase a kidney from a man in Brazil (where the buying and selling of organs isn’t legal, but isn’t rigorously prosecuted). The patient, Mr. N, is a wealthy New York business executive whose kidneys are failing. His condition is not immediately life threatening, making him a low priority on the UNOS list; however, the condition has greatly decreased his ability to function at a normal level.

Knowing he probably wouldn’t receive an organ from UNOS in the near future, Mr. N decided to pursue other options; namely, he decided to offer a fortune to any matching donor willing to donate a kidney. He’s found a man in Brazil willing to sell one of his kidneys immediately. The Brazilian man has a wife and five kids; they are living in severe poverty. Selling a kidney could change their lives significantly.

I'm considering the best way for us to come up with some ideas for the Senator. I will forward you instructions on how to proceed shortly.

Thanks,

Chris Jones, M.D.
Chair, Ethics Committee
Lincoln Regional Medical Center