Comments on: Free the Market for Body Organs http://cafehayek.com/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html where orders emerge Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:06:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Martin Brock http://cafehayek.com/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html/comment-page-1#comment-53158 Martin Brock Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:00:00 +0000 http://70.32.86.159/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html#comment-53158 <p>I agree with Jacoby's sentiments, but Congress could also raise availability of organs for transplant by eliminating other statutory impediments, notably the ban on using the organs of dead or dying people where the deceased has not left a declaration to this effect. This ban is not more "natural" than the allegedly "altruistic" ban on selling organs for transplant.</p> <p>Expanded transplantation, and life extending technology more generally, raises many questions. What price is too high for another year of life? If I'm entitled to a billion dollars of personal consumption, why would I not spend all on another year of life? After all, I'm dead otherwise.</p> <p>And if I can somehow entitle myself to this level of consumption, by writ of my influence within the state, why wouldn't I? "The rich" are rich because states enact forcible proprieties channeling control over vast resources toward a few individuals. That's just a fact. It'll always be a fact.</p> <p>Federal employees, for example, are very "rich" in terms of their entitlement to health care, even if we don't describe them this way. I haven't seen precise statistics, but retired Federal employees undoubtedly consume much costly, life extending health care, because they're simply entitled to it, and hardly anyone says "no" when asked to accept a bit more life.<br /> </p> I agree with Jacoby's sentiments, but Congress could also raise availability of organs for transplant by eliminating other statutory impediments, notably the ban on using the organs of dead or dying people where the deceased has not left a declaration to this effect. This ban is not more "natural" than the allegedly "altruistic" ban on selling organs for transplant.

Expanded transplantation, and life extending technology more generally, raises many questions. What price is too high for another year of life? If I'm entitled to a billion dollars of personal consumption, why would I not spend all on another year of life? After all, I'm dead otherwise.

And if I can somehow entitle myself to this level of consumption, by writ of my influence within the state, why wouldn't I? "The rich" are rich because states enact forcible proprieties channeling control over vast resources toward a few individuals. That's just a fact. It'll always be a fact.

Federal employees, for example, are very "rich" in terms of their entitlement to health care, even if we don't describe them this way. I haven't seen precise statistics, but retired Federal employees undoubtedly consume much costly, life extending health care, because they're simply entitled to it, and hardly anyone says "no" when asked to accept a bit more life.

]]> By: Chris O'Leary http://cafehayek.com/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html/comment-page-1#comment-53159 Chris O'Leary Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:00:00 +0000 http://70.32.86.159/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html#comment-53159 <p>The simplest way to solve the problem is to use a lesson from behavioral economics and simply change the default option.</p> <p>Their research suggests that if we moved from an opt-in to an opt-out system, availability of organs would go way up.</p> The simplest way to solve the problem is to use a lesson from behavioral economics and simply change the default option.

Their research suggests that if we moved from an opt-in to an opt-out system, availability of organs would go way up.

]]> By: anon http://cafehayek.com/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html/comment-page-1#comment-53160 anon Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:00:00 +0000 http://70.32.86.159/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html#comment-53160 <p>I don't mind donating my organs, as long as they don't go to a tax-eater, how can I ensure that?</p> I don't mind donating my organs, as long as they don't go to a tax-eater, how can I ensure that?

]]> By: Martin Brock http://cafehayek.com/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html/comment-page-1#comment-53161 Martin Brock Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:00:00 +0000 http://70.32.86.159/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html#comment-53161 <blockquote> Their research suggests that if we moved from an opt-in to an opt-out system, availability of organs would go way up. </blockquote> <p>I don't have a serious problem with it, but I see no reason for the opt-out. Enacting rights for the dead is archaic and counterproductive.</p>

Their research suggests that if we moved from an opt-in to an opt-out system, availability of organs would go way up.

I don't have a serious problem with it, but I see no reason for the opt-out. Enacting rights for the dead is archaic and counterproductive.

]]> By: Sam Grove http://cafehayek.com/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html/comment-page-1#comment-53162 Sam Grove Tue, 30 Nov 1999 07:00:00 +0000 http://70.32.86.159/2009/07/free-the-market-for-body-organs.html#comment-53162 <p>Instead of an opt-out, the living would have to provide for explicit alternatives, such as donating their bodies to medical schools, etc.</p> <p>I suspect that a lot of those that die aren't suitable as donors anyhow, due to age.</p> Instead of an opt-out, the living would have to provide for explicit alternatives, such as donating their bodies to medical schools, etc.

I suspect that a lot of those that die aren't suitable as donors anyhow, due to age.

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