Buying and Selling of Organs by Internet: Ethical and Legal Concepts of Sellers

Abstract

This article presents the results of an e-mail survey carried out on several Spanish speaking people from Latin America who offered their organs in the spirit of gaining money, and particularly focused on the ethical and legal elements of their offerings. The general objective seeks to analyze the ethical and legal implications for the disposition with an economical motivation of human components from the perspective of those offering their organs through Internet. The survey was sent to 65 candidates of which only seven replied back, and it may be concluded that, in respect to the ethical element, some persons think that selling organs is not ethical but priority needs to be given to necessity; others say that it is ethical when there is a mutual agreement of intention, that is, if someone needs it; and one more person states that even though it is not ethical, it is legal. With respect to the legality of the sale of organs, the positions indicate that each person does what they wish with their own body; they say that it is legal as far as they do not hurt anyone, and that selling should be permitted because it is easier and less dangerous for those who require an organ. Also they claim that it is the system itself which keeps them in a bad economical situation and at the same time punishes them.