SOCHUM legalizes the sale of human organs

The business of human organ trafficking is a multi-billion dollar business that involves numerous countries around the world, developing and developed. Studies by the World Health Organization show that there were more than 10,000 global cases of organ trafficking in 2010, equaling roughly one incident per hour. In these cases, donors, who may be willing or unwilling, are often poor and illiterate, and patients can sometimes die on the operating table.

            Both resolutions that were passed sought to legalize organ sales. A key point brought up during the debate was that, in order to decrease illegal organ trafficking, legal organ sales must be encouraged. As Syria stated during a moderated caucus, “It takes an average of one week to get an organ transplant in Iran [where organ selling is legal] and an average of five years to get an organ transplant in the United States [where organ selling is illegal]. Would you prefer to get a kidney by next Sunday or by 2018?”

Dev Nair of China discusses the pros and cons of legalizing the sale of human organs.

 

            Resolution 2.B requested that countries provide monetary incentives for the legal sale of organs. These benefits would come in forms of tax benefits or food packages. The resolution was directed aimed towards people in developing and poor countries, since only those living in poverty can qualify for these monetary benefits.

            A major point repeatedly emphasized by the authors of this resolution was that if organ transplants were performed properly and legally, there would be less health risks involved. “If we do this legally, we can still provide monetary benefits and protect the safety of other,” said the Venezuelan delegate Sam Tope-Ojo, who sponsored the resolution.

            Resolution 2.C promoted the legalization of organ sales of people above a minimum age, while also recommending the prosecution of traffickers and purchasers of illegal organs. This resolution encouraged the establishment of a strict process to ensure the safe transplant of organs. It planned to establish a standard code for physicians and hospitals and recommended an in-depth screening process for potential donors. This resolution also offered monetary support for any persons who donate organs.

            During the debate, only working paper 2.A was not passed by the committee. Yicheng Bao, the delegate from Vietnam and the sponsor of this working paper, criticized the other papers put forth by the committee, saying that “putting a price on an organ is like putting a price on human life. This leads to dehumanization of the poor.” Instead, working paper 2.A aimed to increase voluntary organ donations by encouraging every citizen to become a willing donor unless they choose to opt out of the donation process.