Proposal for a future delivery market for transplant organs

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Transplantation Medicine
• Health Economics

Background:

• Organ transplantation success rates have improved significantly due to advancements in surgical techniques and immunosuppression.
• Despite progress, a critical shortage of transplantable organs persists, with demand consistently exceeding supply.
• The existing altruistic organ donation model faces challenges in meeting escalating demand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the current unmet demand for transplantable organs.
• To evaluate the limitations of the altruistic organ donation system.
• To propose and assess a novel market-based approach for increasing organ supply.

Main Methods:

• Documentation of current unsatisfied demand for various organs.
• Economic analysis of incentives and property rights in organ donation.
• Evaluation of potential market structures for organ procurement.

Main Results:

• The altruistic donation system is insufficient due to a lack of donor incentives and unclear organ property rights.
• Unregulated private organ markets are deemed inefficient, inequitable, and morally objectionable.
• A publicly operated future delivery market, offering compensation, is presented as a viable solution.

Conclusions:

• A future delivery market could address organ shortages by providing incentives for donation.
• Implementation challenges include price setting, exchange medium, and contractual issues, especially concerning minors.
• This market-based approach is argued to be more effective and ethical than compulsory expropriation.