“Gratuities” for donated organs: ethically indefensible

Abstract

With the encouragement of more than 90 medical bodies (the Declaration of Istanbul) 1 Declaration of Istanbul. Endorsing organizations. http://www.declarationofistanbul.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74&Itemid=56 (accessed Aug 10, 2010). Google Scholar and WHO—which in May, 2010, endorsed revised Guiding Principles that confirm the ban on payment for organs from living or deceased donors 2 World Health Assembly. Human organ and tissue transplantation. May 21, 2010. http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA63/A63_R22-en.pdf (accessed Aug 10, 2010). Google Scholar —several of the countries that have been the most notorious organ bazaars, 3 Shimazono Y The state of the international organ trade: a provisional picture based on integration of available information. Bull World Health Organ. 2007; 85: 955-962 Crossref PubMed Scopus (250) Google Scholar including Egypt, Pakistan, China, and the Philippines, have recently outlawed organ sales and taken steps to prevent trafficking of organs to transplant tourists. 4 Delmonico FL The implications of Istanbul Declaration on organ trafficking and transplant tourism. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2009; 14: 116-119 Crossref PubMed Scopus (53) Google Scholar Yet the risk to people who are poor remains, as proponents of markets for organs seek to circumvent or reverse the prohibitions.