DIACONU ANDREEA CRISTINA

GROUP 122

Blood for sale

1. Sol Levin is running a business opened to moral criticism. I believe that

Sol Levin’s act is not a moral one because “a helping act only has moral
value when it is made for an altruistic reason”. We should not make a
business out of the need of blood or any organ, especially because the
poor people would be always be in disadvantage. This may lead to the
exploitation of the poor because they will tend to donate no matter the
consequences. Blocking blood trade will increase the freedom of choice
to do what is morally right to do.
2. Plasma International took advantage of Western Africans. I think they are
guilty of exploitation because the value of a pint in South Africa and
USA is almost 150% times bigger than the initial value of purchase. They
took advantage of the people needs offering them as little money as
possible.
3. The British blood system promotes human freedom and respect for
people because everyone has the right to choose to donate without being
constrained of any economic good. I think selling blood is not a way to
gain money, is just a selfish way to take advantage of the ones whom are
in desperate need of money. Donating is a choice anyone who wants to
do good has to make freely, in an altruistic way.
4. Egoistic
 CONS
 Human body is used as a way to gain profit

Utilitarian

 PROS
 Provisions in case of emergencies
 Efficiency
 Consistency and frequency of donations
 CONS
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GROUP 122

 People don’t decide freely (their vulnerability pushes them

to donate in exchange of money)
 The human body is instrumentalized
 Reduces the will for altruism of the society

Kantian

 PROS
 Everyone is free to choose (no money constraints)
 Will for altruism increases
 CONS
 Blood supply may decrease(if people won’t donate
frequently and continuous)

5. The principle of moral reasoning says that “my decisions are usually
based on my concern for other people”. That means my intentions are
based on an altruistic way of thinking. Buying and selling blood may
reduce altruism because more and more people would think that money
are more important. I usually donate blood but I don’t expect that other
people should do as I do, sometimes the power of example is greater than
you think. I will never be less inclined to donate if someone else would
receive money in exchange of blood, but I am not the others, I may think
different than the others and maybe selling and buying blood would make
more and more people to not donate it.
6. I think everybody should do whatever he or she wants with their blood
but that doesn’t mean that I support selling blood. The right to sell blood
and the right to donate blood can coexist, saying that we have only one of
that rights means that we are not giving full freedom of choice.
7. If we see it from the point of view of any other business which not
involves organ transplants, organ harvesting, selling of blood or any other
business of this kind, maximization of the profit is a goal but in this field
we can speak of human exploitation. No one, never should take
advantage of people who are in needs of money to survive. To be
“exposed to the forces of economic calculation and to the laws of market-
place” (Titmuss) appears to be without moral merit since one is pushed
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GROUP 122

and forced to do things instead of acting from moral deliberation.

Businesses of this king have one temptation-to reap profits.
8. I always donate blood with something in mind, wanting the good for
others and thinking that a small thing can have a greater impact in
someones’ life. I see it like butterfly effect. I don’t think we have a moral
duty, I think everybody should be educated to want to do it because they
want to help others, not just because is moral or because they receive
money or any other object.