Organ Trading Redux

I am glad that Singapore has finally legalized organ trading with the price, "reimbursement," "compensation" set in excess of S$50,000. It is amazing what "framing" can achieve in public policy. The Singaporean public no longer seems to view organ trading through the lens of immoral commoditification of the human body but rather sees the need to justly compensate deserving donors. Nine in ten Singaporeans now support payment to living donors (http://www.todayonline.com/articles/296682.asp) It also appears that foreigners are allowed to "donate" their organs in Singapore, and for obvious reasons, probably constituting the bulk of organ supply.

I am very happy with this recent development as many more lives will be saved. I now suspect that the S$50,000 is probably a price ceiling above the market clearing rate. And we can all enjoy the blissful effects of a market outcome without the moral backlash that a organ market label entails.


More info: http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1676&Itemid=189