In New Zealand every year many people die for lack of an organ donor. While individuals are often willing to donate their organs after death, few successful transplants actually take place. While this is often due to a lack of tissue match between donor and possible recipient, the donor’s next of kin also influence whether or not organs will be donated by holding the legal power to decide if donation will proceed. Perhaps a radical proposal is needed to address this issue. Some people need money - other people need kidneys; so why not allow people to sell their kidneys? The practice is already illegally taking place established in many countries – for instance there are several villages in Pakistan where nearly half the residents have only one kidney, having sold the other. But what are we to make of the idea in New Zealand? Are there grounds for a regulated kidney sale scheme being established here? As a member of the health workforce you have been asked for your views. What should our country do?
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