Hits & Misses – 2009/02/06
In one new television commercial, a blind man in a wheelchair appeals to Gov. David Paterson, who is legally blind. "Why are you doing this to me?" the man asks the governor plaintively. A better question should go to the health unions and hospitals paying for these ads. Mainly, why are you doing this – again?
How do you buy a kidney without appearing to buy a kidney?
Of the recommendations, the most controversial may be that organ-procurement organizations cover donation-incurred funeral expenses for families who donate a relative's organs.
5,096 people in 35 countries [were asked] to detail the circumstances of their most recent crying episode. About 70 percent said that others' reactions to their breakdown were positive, comforting. But about 16 percent cited nasty or angry reactions that, no surprise, generally made them feel worse… Tears can cleanse, all right. But like a flash flood, they may also leave a person feeling stranded, and soaked.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxXzTR2-3ng
96 Tears
On kidneys, this is exactly what happens in the market for babies. Theoretically, you can’t “buy” a baby. What the adopting parents can, and must, do, however, is cover the “costs” of the natural mother — including medical costs and a lot of other ancillary costs. Last time I looked (which, admittedly, was a long time ago) the market clearing price of a baby in the United States was about $15,000.
Enjoyed hearing 96 Tears again. It’s a moldy oldie.
LifeSharers has an interesting approach to incentives for organ donation:
http://www.lifesharers.com/
In a nutshell, “LifeSharers members promise to donate upon their death, and they give fellow members first access to their organs.”
I think I’d prefer the policy to be to give all registered donors first access, and not merely fellow members.
A better solution is to have real market, allowing the unrestricted buying and selling of organs. It probably wouldn’t be very expensive to induce a large increase in supply — thereby, satifying completely the demand.
It’s not a moldy oldie, Vicki. It’s a blast from the past.