The proposed market for human organs

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Transplantation Medicine
• Health Economics

Background:

• Significant advancements in human organ transplantation (kidney, lung, heart, liver, pancreas, small intestine) have occurred.
• Organ supply limitations severely hinder the widespread application of these life-saving procedures.
• Current regulations prohibit market incentives, restricting organ availability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the impact of regulations on organ supply for transplantation.
• To explore potential market-based mechanisms for increasing organ availability.
• To discuss key considerations in designing an organ market.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on organ transplantation and supply.
• Analysis of regulatory frameworks impacting organ donation and procurement.
• Economic modeling of potential market structures for organ allocation.

Main Results:

• Regulations prohibiting market incentives are a primary cause of organ shortages.
• Market models, including sales by living donors, future interests, and post-mortem sales, are proposed.
• Geographic scope and liability rules are critical design elements for any organ market.

Conclusions:

• Implementing market incentives could significantly increase organ supply for transplantation.
• Careful consideration of market design, including scope and liability, is essential for ethical and effective implementation.
• Addressing organ shortages through regulated markets may improve patient access to life-saving transplants.