Marketing human organs: The autonomy paradox

Theoretical Medicine and Bioethics 17 (1) (1996)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

The severe shortage of organs for transplantation and the continual reluctance of the public to voluntarily donate has prompted consideration of alternative strategies for organ procurement. This paper explores the development of market approaches for procuring human organs for transplantation and considers the social and moral implications of organ donation as both a gift of life and a commodity exchange. The problematic and paradoxical articulation of individual autonomy in relation to property rights and marketing human body parts is addressed. We argue that beliefs about proprietorship over human body parts and the capacity to provide consent for organ donation are culturally constructed. We contend that the political and economic framework of biomedicine, in western and non-western nations, influences access to transplantation technology and shapes the form and development of specific market approaches. Finally, we suggest that marketing approaches for organ procurement are and will be negotiated within cultural parameters constrained by several factors: beliefs about the physical body and personhood, religious traditions, economic conditions, and the availability of technological resources.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

  • This entry has no external links. Add one.
Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
97 (#164,058)

6 months
1 (#1,040,386)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Citations of this work

Bioethics and International Human Rights.David C. Thomasma - 1997 - Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics 25 (4):295-306.
Paid organ donation--the grey basket concept.A. S. Daar - 1998 - Journal of Medical Ethics 24 (6):365-368.
The Paradox of Health Care.Bjørn Hofmann - 2001 - Health Care Analysis 9 (4):369-386.

View all 6 citations / Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references