Commercialization of human organs for transplantation: a view from South Africa

The Human Tissue Act 65 of 1983 regulates all aspects regarding organ transplants. This Act was last amended in 1989. Since then medical science has developed tremendously and to such an extent that organ transplants today are almost routine operations in many hospitals. Unfortunately the current methods of procuring human organs are not supplying the demand. A new approach, the commercialization of human organs for transplantation is a possibility with the potential to supply one hundred per cent of the demand for organs. There are however many arguments against the commercialization of human organs, but not one of these arguments is without criticism. Ethical aspects concerning commercialization of human organs also need to be investigated, in order to reach a conclusion that it is not unethical and is worth being investigated.