4 ms·

There are a lot of problems with this idea. You've created a perverse incentive structure. Poor people won't be able to get the organs of rich people. This wi

There are a lot of problems with this idea. You've created a perverse incentive structure. Poor people won't be able to get the organs of rich people. This will favor people at the top of each income bracket, since they will have more money to move to where the waiting list is shortest. Or if you want to let people buy and sell organs, they'll have more money than their competitors. Rich people can use financial instruments to change their income. Since most people accumulate wealth over life, organ donors will usually be young and poor. Recipients will be older and richer. This disparity is large enough to ensure that some organs will go to waste. Oh and this will never happen because politicians are rich and old and need organ transplants. It's weird how people suddenly care what you do with your corpse when it can directly help others. Buried? Fine. Cremated? Sure. Donated to research? Go for it. Frozen in liquid nitrogen? Whatever floats your boat. Sold to the highest bidder so you can provide for your family after death? Eh, not so much.

jacquesm 16y ago
It probably would be good to note here that there are far fewer wealthy people than there are poorer people. So this will not favor those at the top of the income brackets because waiting lists are typically on a compatibility and first-come-first-served basis. Right now for instance there is a big flap going between the Netherlands and Belgium, the dutch have voluntary codicis, the Belgians have mandatory ones. Because EuroTransplant matches up donors and organs from both countries the Dutch benefit from this arrangement disproportionally. > Since most people accumulate wealth over life, organ donors will usually be young and poor. Recipients will be older and richer. Yes, that's the current situation, pretty much. Poor people in need of organs that are older are not getting any because rich people in need of organs get to use their money to 'jump the line'. > Oh and this will never happen because politicians are rich and old and need organ transplants. Yes, I realize that, it underscores my point I think.

jacquesm 16y ago

It probably would be good to note here that there are far fewer wealthy people than there are poorer people. So this will not favor those at the top of the income brackets because waiting lists are typically on a compatibility and first-come-first-served basis. Right now for instance there is a big flap going between the Netherlands and Belgium, the dutch have voluntary codicis, the Belgians have mandatory ones. Because EuroTransplant matches up donors and organs from both countries the Dutch benefit from this arrangement disproportionally. > Since most people accumulate wealth over life, organ donors will usually be young and poor. Recipients will be older and richer. Yes, that's the current situation, pretty much. Poor people in need of organs that are older are not getting any because rich people in need of organs get to use their money to 'jump the line'. > Oh and this will never happen because politicians are rich and old and need organ transplants. Yes, I realize that, it underscores my point I think.