What We Can Learn from Iran
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James Joyner | Monday, April 14, 2008 |
Alex Tabarrok passes on word that only one country in the world has an adequate supply of donor kidneys for transplants: Iran. The reason? They allow compensation for donors.
The government pays donors $1,200 plus limited health insurance coverage. In addition, charitable organizations also provide renumeration to impoverished donors. Thus demonstrating that Iran has something to teach the world about charity as well as about markets. Will wonders never cease? Recipients may also contribute to donor renumeration.
While a little queasy about having desperate families bidding for organs, not to mention the theoretical possibility of incentivizing foul play, I’m inclined to support such a plan. I am, however, highly dubious of data coming out of totalitarian states. For that matter, I’m suspicious that if the Iranian government feels strongly enough about organ donation that they’re offering stipends, the degree to which potential donors have much choice might be somewhat constrained.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and infant daughter.
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Alex Tabarrok passes on word that only one country in the world has an adequate supply of donor kidneys for transplants: Iran. The reason? They allow compensation for donors.
Yeah, well, there seems something to the idea of there being such economic conditions that people need to sell Kidneys and whatnot to survive.
Necessity, it is said, is a mother.
Once you see someone die for lack of an organ, you get over any moral qualms quite quickly.
Incidentally the Iranians have also liberal laws about stem cell research, and have government-subsidized gender change operations.
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