Eloise Kunu1/14/15

Pre- research Assignment

To start off my research, I decided to think about some things that I may want to research

more about. A lot came into my mind in regards to dealing with health one way or the other, but

after several thinking I decided to research about organ trafficking. One reason why is because

you barely hear that much of it and usually when one is talking about trafficking it is usually

referring to human trafficking and not organs. Also I never knew that organ trafficking actually

exist until I watch a video on it and became intrigued about knowing more. With this in mind,

some questions that came forth and helped more with my search are like, are there any

consequences or affects after selling an organ that one might need later on in life? Why is it

called the black market? Or at what extreme will one go to attain an organ, and the ethical and

moral issues behind it. After reading and looking at several articles, one main question raised in

my mind. I was thinking to what extent one or society as a whole will go in order to get what

they desire or need? Example would be poor people having no alternative so turning to organ

trafficking or others wanting to make money so join the black market, and lastly those in need

for health rather pay for one illegally than being placed on a waiting list for several month or

years.

After several look at different article one of interest which is titled THE ORGAN TRADE:

A Global Black Market; Tracking the Sale of a Kidney on a Path of Poverty and Hope came

about. This articles which was written by the NY Times author Larry Rohter, was published on

May 31, 2004. This article which I believe targets all audience, even though doesn’t have talks

about the actual process of organ trafficking between a man and a woman with different

ethnicity, and the result of the transaction. Also it goes in depth to talk about how the operation

goes by sending them to South Africa where the operation took place, and in order for police not

Eloise Kunu1/14/15

to notice the illegal transaction, the donor has to lie that the organ was given to a family member

such as a brother or a cousin, which in his case the person said cousin. Within the article it states

how the recipient and donor are not supposed to meet but the recipient insisted on it. More info

about organ trafficking were given and how some donor have negative result from the

experience. One feature with the article would be the author talking about organ trafficking with

the use of two individuals who experienced it, both on the donor and recipient side. Overall the

article did reiterate how organ trafficking is illegal and the range of cost one kidney might be.

Although everyone is doing this whether to get out of poverty or help save a life, I still believe it

is wrong to sell one organ which I can technically say body to receive money. I believe that there

are better ways to earn money without selling one’s organ.