Blog Prompt 9: Should organ sales be legal? Give the Kantian argument. Do you agree? Where would a utilitarian stand?

Yes! Organ sales should be legal. First and foremost we all have a right to our bodies, we should be able to do what we want with it. Usually organ sales come with monetary compensation, and offering a kidney can amount to a great deal of money. In the film we viewed in class, it was clear to see when individuals are in desperate situations the willingness to act on a desire doesn’t need question. When one feels something will always hold them back from achieving their dream/desire, then one will remove whatever is preventing the ability of achieving. Today in the U.S. a large amount of the population at some point in their lives have donated blood. That’s part of our body, why not a non essential organ. Selling an organ doesn’t just benefit one party, it benefits the donor, organization distributing the organ, and finally going to the individual in need. The Kantian argument for organ sales would be on the opposing end; Kant would be against even the donation of organs in my opinion. A Kant view would say that once you put a price on your body/livelihood it cause harm. There is no end beach your hurting your body. Whether its donation or the sale of an organ, there will be sometime of motivation and through a Kantian’s eyes that is wrong. Even friendly donation can be considered partly coerced. Kant being Christian is the biggest billboard for a premise against organ sales. Through a religious view “we are not owners of our bodies” and we also have a human duty of self conservation. There is gray in my opinion for what an individual can donate for example, blood, plasma, bone marrow. 

Now a Utilitarian in my opinion would support the sale of organ sales for a simple reason. Utilitarianism is identified as a theory seeking the most good for the greatest amount of  people. A utilitarian would argue the more individuals sell their organs the more lives are spared, therefore creating a chain of people blessing others. The issue that a Utilitarian can run into is that one receives money in the process; it’s no longer all about the individuals in need, but both parties. A question to be asked is, “what is the consequence on human kind?” Well it is projected organ sales will shorten the waiting time and availability of organs, by having individuals more encouraged to donate for money. The welfare of a patient is still being cared for through organ sales and also preservation of life is seen. Overall, utilatrianism is pro-life, so in my eyes regardless the pricetag, if it help an individuals its a GO!

So why not sell? The benefits that come out of organ sales are positive, first a patient receives another chance of life, and the opportunity to grow up. Plus as a bonus the seller gets compensation. If both parties benefit and are happy I see no harm.

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