Running head: PROPOSAL ARGUMENT ESSAY.

Proposal Argument Essay

Human Organ Trafficking

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Institution

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Currently, many people suffer from a chronic illness that leads to the failure of human

organs. The number of cases that require organ transplant has drastically increased across the

globe due to the high prevalence of diseases that affects vital human organs. Consequently, the

demand for human organs shifted above the available donations. The primary source of human

organs is deceased from brain deaths. However, a significant supply comes from live donations.

According to the World Health Organization, ten percent of world organ donations come from

non-heart-beating individuals (Martin, 2012). The supply from these sources is less compared to

the number of patients in need of the organs, and this creates a market organ shortage. Despite

notable progress in the medical field that involves pharmacologic and advanced surgical

techniques, organ shortage is still a major problem that needs to be addressed globally. Medical

professionals believe that a shortage in the human organ is the source of unethical practices such

as organ trafficking, the careless balance of recipient benefit and possible harm to the donors in

live donations, payment for organs, among other problems. Of all the challenges, organ

trafficking has become a major contagious worldwide issue that needs to addressed

internationally at the highest levels in the medical field.

Healthcare professionals have specialized in organ transplantation as part of a vital

treatment plan to save and prolong patient lives. A large number of clinical conditions that

involve complications in major human organs such as kidney, lung, liver, pancreas, and heart

have been solved through an organ transplant. Besides, there are minor organ transplants that

almost happen daily, such as bones, skin, and small bowels, among others. Through proper

surgical processes, millions of patients have found temporary or permanent relief from their

chronic health conditions due to organ transplants. It is undoubtedly that many lives depend on

organ donations; thus, unethical practices that thwart the process, such as organ trafficking must
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be stopped by all means possible. In many countries, organ trafficking, which is the sale and

purchase of human organs for transplantation, is a crime. For example, in the United States, there

are Federal Anti-Trafficking Laws such as Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000

and Section 307 and 308 of the Trafficking Act of 1930 that outlines prevention, protection, and

prosecution of trafficking and victims (Challenges, 2018). The only exception is Iran in which

buying and selling of human organs are legal so long the parties involved are Iran citizens.

Despite the strict laws and regulations, organ trafficking is still a lucrative illicit trade.

This is due to high demand and a low rate of law enforcement in many countries. Based on a

study conducted by Global Financial Integrity, approximately ten percent of the organs

transplanted, such as lungs, liver, and heart, are trafficked (Challenges, 2018). GFI further

reveals that the kidney is the most organ traded illicitly. Borrowing from the World Health

Organization statistics, around 10,000 kidneys are traded on the black market globally in one

year (Challenges, 2018). The numbers can be stark, but a comprehensive understanding of

demand and supply can be given from wait times for organs in established countries such as

United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. According to the National Kidney Foundation, U.S

wait time for a kidney is approximately 3.6 years, and the U.K is two to three years while

Canada for three years (Martin, 2012). The long wait times show affirms that there is a high

demand for human organs than the amount donated in the hospitals. Governments, through their

respective law enforcement agencies, have obligation and duty to the people to formulate and

implement anti-organ trafficking laws. Written law is not enough to safeguard the interest of

patients unless it is acted upon. A study released by the Homeland Security department in the

United States reveals that organ trafficking has increased due to the formation of transnational

organized crime groups that work in collaboration with health professionals. Hiding in plain
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sight is also a major catalyst for organ trafficking. In this case, the trafficked organs are

transplanted to the patients in hiding places or homes. Some transplantations also occur in

reputable hospitals in private operation rooms without the knowledge of the authorities.

Kassab & Rosen (2019) noted that the solution to human organ trafficking relies strongly

on the ability of the governments and states to enforce anti-trafficking laws. The role of the state

does not stop at formulating laws and policies but extend and ensure that people follow those

laws. Governments across the globe should work together to ensure that individuals involved in

human organ trafficking face the full force of the law. Those involved should be taken to the

court of law and answer for their crimes to act as examples to those with similar intentions.

Further, governments, through their respective ministries of health and internal security, should

create public awareness on the impacts of organ trafficking on society. Educated citizens are

easy to deal with since they understand the consequences of illegal and unethical organ selling

and buying. Besides, governments need to form collaborative policies that involve hospitals

across the world to help link the hospitals. Linking hospitals across the world mean that they can

share organs and information regarding organ trafficking.

Beyar (2011) pointed out that addressing the organ shortage would significantly reduce

trafficking. First, the implementation of relevant education programs focusing on the hospitals

and the public to make them understand the value of organ donation would help. Through state-

funded programs, the public can be educated on the importance of cadaver donations. As noted

earlier, when people are educated on the essence of organ donations, then they will understand

the need to donate when they can donate. Secondly, paired exchange for organs such as kidneys

that connects willing donors that have compatible matches would help reduce the shortage.

Paired exchange heavily depends on information sharing worldwide since finding a match may
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be difficult within a restricted circle. WHO projects that paired exchange can help save eighteen

patients in a day who might while waiting for organ transplant (Martin, 2012). Another way the

government can reduce organ shortage is to maximize and appropriately use extended criteria

donors. ECD utilization would reduce the number of patients on the waiting list and give many

patients the chance to donate willingly. In both developing and developed nations, gifting both

donors and their beneficiaries significantly increases the organ supply. When the government

works together with hospitals to gift those who willingly donate organs or provide financial

assistance to the family in case the donors are diseased, then many people will be willing to

donate organs. Therefore, governments must form a reward system for donors to motivate legible

ad potential donors.

The solution to human organ trafficking relies on the development of better systems of

organ donation for the deceased. WHO and countries that support The Declaration of Istanbul on

Organ Trafficking and Transplant Tourism believe that the government has the duty to establish

a transparent and better system of deceased organ donation (Martin, 2012). An excellent

donation system should define how the donations are reached, and the entire process will be

monitored. It should be transparent, open, and accountable. The Istanbul declaration also

forwarded that governments should promote altruistic living kidney donation. Altruistic

donations entail people donating one of their kidneys to patients they do not know about (Calne,

2005).

In most cases, governments discourage altruistic living kidney donors based on their

mental and physical health. Encouraging such donors will increase the total number of organs

available in hospitals and bridge the demand gap. Reaching out to everyone in the community

despite their understanding and take on organ donation have a notable impact on the supply of
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human organs. With proper planning and timely information channeling, the states can reach out

to many people who are willing but unable to donate their organs.

Finally, healthcare professionals and the government are obligated to ensure organ donors

have good health after donation. By helping the donors to keep good health after donation, the

government motivates other people to donate too. If those who donate are not well taken care of

health-wise, then the aftermaths of the donations may be fatal. When people observe after

donations occurrences and notice poor health quality due to lack of government support, then the

number of those willing to donate will significantly decline. It is therefore vital and necessary

that the governments, through their respective ministry of health to develop after donation

programs that involve compensation of deceased donor’s families and health care insurance for

the live donors. By considering such moves, health professionals and the government can realize

overwhelming donations to reduce organ shortage. Consequently, organ trafficking reduces by a

significant percentage or stop.

In conclusion, organ transplant has become an essential service in healthcare that saves

millions of lives, and the government, healthcare professionals, and the general public have the

responsibility to stop unethical practices involved. Organ trafficking, the careless balance of

recipient benefit, and possible harm to the donors in live donations and payment for organs,

among other challenges, have to stop to save as many lives as possible. Donor gifting, the

establishment of a transparent donation system, enforcement of anti-trafficking laws, creating

public awareness, and encouraging paired exchange for organs are concrete solutions to human

organ trafficking. Implementation of the highlighted solutions means reducing the waiting time

and saving double the number of patients that require an organ transplant.
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References

Beyar, R. (2011). Challenges in organ transplantation. Rambam Maimonides medical journal,

2(2).

Calne, R. (2005, June). Challenges of organ transplantation. In Transplantation proceedings

(Vol. 37, No. 5, pp. 1979-1983). Elsevier.

Challenges, A. (2018). Organ Trafficking: The Unseen Form of Human Trafficking - ACAMS

Today. Retrieved 26 April 2020, from https://www.acamstoday.org/organ-trafficking-the-

unseen-form-of-human-trafficking/

Kassab, H. S., & Rosen, J. D. (2019). Human and Organ Trafficking. In Illicit Markets,

Organized Crime, and Global Security (pp. 111-135). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

Martin, D. (2012). Action to stop thriving global organ trade must start at home. Retrieved 26

April 2020, from https://theconversation.com/action-to-stop-thriving-global-organ-trade-

must-start-at-home-7333