COMMENT/ REPLY TO THE JULLIAN POST

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Jillian Knoll v Y'snerday Hello You present a lot of great points in your argument for a legal organ market. A legalized market for organs would provide an incentive for more people to donate their organs. and many lives would be saved. I also feel that if implemented correctly. a legalized market would be benecial. at least in the short run. An important part of creating a safe market for organs is limiting incentives to compensations for burial expenses and education funds for the children of the deceased' as you stated. I do worry that a legalized market for organs could present more issues in the long run. How can we make sure that people in need have equal, fair access to organs? To my knowledge. the current system does not require people in need to pay anything in order to receive an organ. If an individual has to pay a compensation to receive an organ. do you think it would limit poorer people's access to organ donations? 1. I do believe there are some flaws in the assigned text from The Joy of Economics. In particular. first. the claim that life is not priceless is a controversial one. and I believe it is incorrect. This claim goes against the commonlyheld beliefthat life is priceless. and I think the book should have been clearer in its explanation. "The Case for Paying Organ Donors" by Dr. Sally Satel argues differently that "organs should not be seen as priceless gifts from the gods. but as a valuable commodity that can and should be bought and sold in the marketplace." She goes on to say that llthe notion that organs are priceless is not only incorrect but dangerous because it leads to all sorts of bad public policy." Second. the claim that smokers may save society money is debatable aud contradicts widely held beliefs. The book contends that smokers may save society money by contributing to Social Security and dying sooner than nonsmokers. freeing up resources that would otherwise be spent on their health care. According to David Levy's "'The Economic Cost of Smoking." "smoking imposes substantial economic costs on society. including the costs of healthcare. lost productivity: and fires." He goes on to say that "these costs are borne not only by smokers. but also by nonsmokers. including children. in the form of higher taxes. insurance premiums. and healthcare costs." This article. I believe. provides a clear counterpoint to the claim made in The Joy of Economics. and I believe it is critical to consider both sides. 2. The text addresses the possibility of legalizing the selling of human organs and argues that it may supply a muchneeded source of organs for transplantation. It would also give an incentive for people to donate organs. perhaps saving lives. There are various reasons why I favor the idea of legalizing the selling of human organs. For starters. it might provide a much-needed supply of organs for transplantation. There is currently a shortage of organs available for transplant, which has resulted in an organ black market. Creating a legal market for organs would assist meet demand and would most likely result in a fall in the price of organs on the illegal market. It would also give an incentive for people to donate organs because they would be reimbursed for their contributions. This could save lives by allowing more individuals to receive the organs they require more quickly. However. I believe that donor compensation should be confined to the payment of burial expenses. the establishment of education funds for the deceased's children. and or other sorts of compensation. This will ensure that donors are not motivated to engage in dangerous habits that might lead to their death. Furthermore. it would ensure that donors are not excessively motivated by financial reasons when opting to donate their organs. One of the reasons against introducing legal marketplaces for the sale of human organs. according to the text. is that it would motivate people to engage in dangerous activities that may lead to their death. However. I feel that this argument is insufficient to o'set the benefits of establishing such marketplaces. We may guarantee that donors are not encouraged to participate in dangerous activities by restricting donor remuneration to payment of burial expenses. the establishment of education funds for the deceased's children. and or other sorts of compensation